Airport Full Body Scanners Safe

Feb 18
09:43

2011

Steve Robinson

Steve Robinson

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Potential travelers should not pass on cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages out of concern over the radiation emitting body scanners at airports.

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Most experts agree that the radiation exposure from these machines is too minute to contribute to any serious health threat.

The probability of getting cancer by going through these machines is judged to be six times less likely than the probability of getting stuck by lightning according to experts.

Two types of scanners are used in the United States:  millimeter wave scanners and backscatter scanners.  Millimeter wave scanners use radio waves and have no proven adverse health effects.  They do not expose travelers to any X-rays.  Backscatter scanners use extremely low levels of X-rays.

The dose of radiation travelers are exposed to each time they go through a scanner at an airport is equivalent to 1/1000 of a dental X-ray.  Multiple safety mechanisms have been installed and there has never been a reported problem.

Travelers retain the right to opt out of going through a scanner but as a result of this decision,Airport Full Body Scanners Safe Articles will receive a thorough pat-down by someone of the same gender.  Anyone who sets off an alarm going through a metal detector or a full body scanner will then receive a comprehensive pat-down.