Which type of radiation can lead blankets effectively shield against?

Lead blankets are particularly effective at shielding against gamma radiation due to lead's high density and atomic number, which provide the necessary mass to absorb and attenuate high-energy photons. Gamma radiation is highly penetrative, and without appropriate shielding, it can pose a significant risk to individuals in a radiation environment.

Additionally, although lead is not the most effective material for shielding against alpha particles, it does block them, as these particles cannot penetrate through even a sheet of paper or the outer layer of human skin. Beta particles are also shielded by lead, but other materials like plastic or wood can be used effectively for beta radiation blockage. Therefore, lead blankets do indeed provide shielding against alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, but they are most notably recognized for their effectiveness against gamma radiation. This makes the assertion that lead blankets can shield against all three types of radiation accurate.