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Are Airport Scanners Hazardous To Your Health?
11/22/2010
In light of some inquiries regarding the safety of radiation exposure resulting from airport scanners, we are sending some information that you may want to share with your patient constituency.
Generally, there are two types of scanners currently used in the United States:
1. Millimeter radio wave scanners (appears like a glass booth) – do not use x-rays
2. Backscatter x-ray scanners (appears like two refrigerators) – use x-rays
The radiation dose from a single backscatter system is very low. A single backscatter scan is equivalent to about 30 minutes of natural background radiation or about 4-5 minutes of air-travel. One needs to undergo 1,000 - 2,000 backscatter scans to receive the radiation dose equivalent to a single chest x-ray dose.
Thank you.
Keith Kerneklian
Legislative & Advocacy Manager
Coalition for Imaging and Bioengineering Research
1029 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 505
Washington, DC 20005
P: 202-347-5872
F: 202-347-5876