Full-body scanners used in airports and court buildings pose very little health risk, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
There are two full-body scanning technologies currently being put into widespread use to check peoÂple for concealed weapons, explosives, or other contraband without having to make physical contact: x-ray security screening systems and systems based on millimeÂter wave technology, which uses nonionizing electromagnetic waves to generate an image based on the energy reflected from the body, the agency said.
General-use x-ray security systems found in U.S. airports are also called "backÂscatter" systems -- they use small amounts of x-rays that bounce off the person being screened. The amount of this radiation is less than a person receives from naturally occurring sources in less than an hour of ordinary activities, according to the FDA. The millimeter wave systems do not use radiation at all, the agency said.
Related Reading
Radiation risk low with whole-body airport scanners, January 6, 2010
Copyright © 2010 AuntMinnie.com
