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Victor Smith
- Posts: 203
- Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:17 am
- Location: Derry, NH, USA
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How dangerous are the airport scanners, aside of getting beneath our clothes, realizing they're not Star Trek standard?
Victor Smith
bushi no te isshinryu
bushi no te isshinryu
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Bill Glasheen
- Posts: 17299
- Joined: Thu Mar 11, 1999 6:01 am
- Location: Richmond, VA --- Louisville, KY
It's reported that the exposure you're getting from a single scan is equivalent to the total radiation you receive from flying at 30,000 feet for 3 minutes. So... practically speaking it's not a concern.
The real concern is if the machine malfunctions. That kind of thing may be rare to impossible. But it's happened before with hospital equipment.
The real danger - if there's any - would be to the airport worker who stands near the machine all day long without any protective equipment. When you see them begin to wear radiation exposure badges (been there, done that on a previous job), well then we travelers can begin to talk about exposure.
Personally I prefer that over the new regulation pat-down, unless of course she's cute. Somehow though I'm not expecting a "Girls of TSA" special in Playboy any time soon.
- Bill
The real concern is if the machine malfunctions. That kind of thing may be rare to impossible. But it's happened before with hospital equipment.
The real danger - if there's any - would be to the airport worker who stands near the machine all day long without any protective equipment. When you see them begin to wear radiation exposure badges (been there, done that on a previous job), well then we travelers can begin to talk about exposure.
Personally I prefer that over the new regulation pat-down, unless of course she's cute. Somehow though I'm not expecting a "Girls of TSA" special in Playboy any time soon.
- Bill
That's the general view. Here's an approachable summary.
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/rea ... -my-health
But it's not universal. Apparently the radiation is more concentrated at the skin and underlying tissue so perhaps may pose a risk there--say, to breasts. Since I happen to carry my gonads outside my body, that is a concern as well.
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/TS ... 670-1.html
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/rea ... -my-health
But it's not universal. Apparently the radiation is more concentrated at the skin and underlying tissue so perhaps may pose a risk there--say, to breasts. Since I happen to carry my gonads outside my body, that is a concern as well.
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/TS ... 670-1.html
--Ian
