What is the primary purpose of using shielding in radiation protection?

Using shielding in radiation protection serves the essential purpose of reducing radiation dose. Radiation can negatively impact human health, leading to various complications and illnesses, so it's critical to minimize exposure. Shielding materials, such as lead or concrete, absorb or scatter radiation, thereby lowering the amount that penetrates to the worker's or public's environment.

This reduction of radiation dose is paramount in environments where radiation is generated, such as medical facilities or nuclear power plants. Proper shielding ensures that both workers and the public can perform their duties without facing undue risk from radiation.

The other options relate to different aspects of radiation safety that don't primarily address the core concept of effective dose management. For example, while preventing radiation leaks is important, the primary advantage of shielding focuses specifically on dose reduction.