Airport Scanners: Safe For Pregnant Women?

Many pregnant women worry about the safety of airport security scanners. The two types of airport scanners are millimeter-wave scanners and x-ray backscatter scanners. Both types of scanners are considered safe for pregnant women as they emit low-intensity, non-ionizing radiation. This means that the radiation does not have enough energy to damage cells in the body and cannot penetrate the skin. The amount of radiation you are exposed to during a scan is lower than that from your phone and is equivalent to the amount of cosmic radiation you would experience during two minutes of flight.

Millimeter-wave scanners are safe for pregnant women

At such low levels, exposure to radiation is considered harmless for everyone, including pregnant women. The radiation used by these scanners is non-ionising, meaning it has insufficient energy to damage cells. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), non-ionising radiation does not pose a risk to pregnant women and their babies. Millimeter-wave scanners emit less radiation than a typical cellphone.

Andrew Karam, PhD, CHP, a board-certified radiation safety professional, affirms that non-ionising radiation "doesn't reach very far inside the body" and is "not physically able to cause all sorts of damage that can lead to birth defects or cancer." The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also assures that all screening equipment at airport security checkpoints is safe for all travellers, including pregnant women.

If you still have concerns about the safety of millimeter-wave scanners during pregnancy, you can opt-out and request a pat-down search instead. This alternative method involves a female security officer physically checking your body for any hidden weapons, especially around your breasts and belly. Keep in mind that opting for a pat-down search will take considerably longer than the standard scanning procedure, so be sure to arrive at the airport early.

X-ray backscatter scanners are safe for pregnant women

Backscatter scanners were removed from major US airports in 2012 due to concerns about privacy, as the revealing images produced by the scanners violated the privacy of travelers. They were replaced with millimeter-wave scanners, which use radio waves, but backscatter scanners are still used in some airports.

The amount of radiation exposure from a backscatter scan is about less than one-millionth of the recommended limit for a fetus, according to the CDC. The flight itself exposes you to more radiation than a single backscatter scan. The radiation from one backscatter scan is equivalent to one to three minutes of flight time.

If you are still concerned about walking through a full-body scanner at the airport, you can always request a pat-down instead, which will be done by a female Transportation Security Officer.

The level of radiation exposure is lower than that of a mobile phone

If you're pregnant and concerned about the safety of airport scanners, you can rest assured that these scanners are safe for both you and your baby. The level of radiation exposure is lower than that of a mobile phone, and at such low levels, it is considered safe for everyone.

Airport scanners use millimetre wave imaging technology to detect potentially dangerous objects that may be concealed under clothing. The scanner bounces waves off your body, which then go back to the machine for processing. This process does not use X-rays, and the radiation emitted is non-ionizing, the same type of radiation used by your phone, television, and radio.

Non-ionizing radiation is lower energy than ionizing radiation and does not have enough energy to damage cells. It also doesn't penetrate very far into the body. This means that it cannot cause the sort of damage that can lead to birth defects or cancer. The amount of radiation exposure from airport scanners is extremely low and is not considered a risk to pregnant women and their babies.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), common exposures to non-ionizing radiation pose no risk to pregnant women and their babies. The flight itself exposes you to more radiation than a single scan from an airport scanner. Despite this, there are no increased risks to you or your unborn child, whether you are a passenger or working in airport security.

If you still have concerns or feel uncomfortable about using a full-body scanner, you have the option to refuse and request a pat-down instead. However, keep in mind that this alternative method will take considerably longer, and you may be asked to loosen or remove some clothing. Your luggage and other items will still need to be screened through a machine that uses X-rays, but these machines have thick walls and lead curtains to prevent radiation from leaking out, so it is safe for you to stand next to them while pregnant.

The alternative to a body scanner is a hand search

If you have safety concerns or feel uncomfortable about using a full-body scanner, you can refuse to step through one. However, you will not be allowed to board a plane until you have been searched. The alternative to the scanner is a thorough hand search in a private room. You may be asked to loosen or remove some clothing, and the check will take much longer than stepping through a scanner.

During a hand search, you may be subjected to a pat-down, which will be done by a female Transportation Security Officer. A Transportation Security Officer will physically check your body from head to toe, possibly including an intimate check of breasts/groin/buttocks. You can request that this takes place in a private room, but it will still be near the checkpoint.

The hand search will be accompanied by your luggage and any other items you are carrying being passed through a screening machine that uses x-rays. These units have thick walls and lead curtains at each end to stop radiation from leaking out. It is safe for you to stand next to one of these machines while you are pregnant. There are no increased risks to you or your unborn baby, whether you are a passenger or working in airport security.

Metal detectors are safe for pregnant women

This type of radiation is called "nonionizing" radiation, which does not generate additional, damaging radiation like X-rays. Magnetic fields below a certain intensity are considered safe and do not cause any biological damage. In fact, they are used in medical procedures such as MRI scans, which use a much higher magnetic field intensity than metal detectors.

The level of radiation exposure from metal detectors and other airport screening equipment is extremely low. It is comparable to the radiation exposure from your phone or everyday items like TV and radio. At such low levels, exposure is considered safe for everyone, including pregnant women and their babies.

If you are a pregnant woman with concerns about airport security scanners, you can opt for a physical 'pat-down' search instead. A female security officer will then run her hand along your body to check for any hidden weapons. However, this option takes a considerably longer time than the standard screening process, so it is advisable to reach the airport early if you plan to choose this option.

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