Roberta Aguirre
Airport security systems use metal detectors, backscatter X-ray machines, millimeter-wave scanners, and cabinet X-ray machines to ensure the safety of people travelling. Backscatter X-ray machines are a type of whole-body imaging technology that has been used to perform full-body scans of airline passengers to detect hidden weapons, tools, liquids, narcotics, currency, and other contraband. They are designed to be capable of detecting items that have no direct effect on airport security and passenger safety, such as drugs, currency, and contraband, which has raised concerns about privacy and illegal search and seizure. Backscatter X-ray machines use ionizing radiation, which is considered carcinogenic even in small doses, but the doses used in airport scanners are believed to be negligible for individuals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Scanner | Backscatter X-ray |
| Type of Radiation | Ionizing radiation |
| Image Produced | 2D |
| Image Seen by TSA | Generic body outline |
| Safety | Believed to be negligible for an individual |
| Health Risks | Negligible |
| Energy | Less than cell phones |
| Use | Detect weapons, explosives, drugs, currency, contraband |
| Privacy Concerns | Violation of confidential medical information |
| Alternative | Millimeter wave scanners |
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What You'll Learn
Backscatter X-ray machines are a type of ionizing radiation
Backscatter X-ray machines are considered safer than traditional X-ray machines because they detect radiation that reflects off objects rather than transmitting X-rays through them. This makes them less destructive and allows them to operate even if only one side of the target is available for examination. They are also good for imaging organic material. However, they are still a form of ionizing radiation, which can break chemical bonds and is considered carcinogenic even in very small doses.
Despite the concerns, the manufacturers of backscatter X-ray machines claim that they are safe and designed to prevent accidental exposures. The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other vendors insist that a single scan exposes a person to minuscule amounts of radiation. The TSA also states that individuals receive a higher dose of radiation from cosmic rays during flight than from a single scan.
In contrast, some scientists and health officials have questioned the safety of backscatter X-ray machines. They argue that the effective dose of radiation is higher than claimed and that the machines could increase the risk of skin cancer. As a result, backscatter X-ray machines have been banned in the European Union since 2012 to protect passenger safety.
While the efficacy and safety of backscatter X-ray machines are debated, they continue to be used in airports for security scanning, alongside other types of screening equipment such as metal detectors and millimeter wave scanners.
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Millimeter wave scanners are a safer alternative
Millimeter wave scanners emit a special type of microwave, not an X-ray. Two rotating transmitters produce the waves as a passenger stands still inside the machine. The energy passes through clothing, bounces off the person's skin and any potential threats, and then returns to two receivers, which send images to an operator station.
Millimeter wave scanners use non-ionizing radiation, which has enough energy to move atoms in a molecule around or cause them to vibrate, but not enough to remove electrons from atoms. This means that millimeter wave radiation is incapable of causing cancers by radiolytic DNA bond cleavage. In addition, the energy density required to produce thermal injury in the skin is much higher than that typically delivered in an active millimeter wave scanner.
Millimeter wave scanners are also less likely to provide false positives than backscatter X-ray machines. However, they are more likely to be fooled by objects that are similar in size to the wavelength of the energy, such as folds in clothing, buttons, and even beads of sweat. When Germany tested millimeter wave scanners, security officials there reported a false positive rate of 54%.
Overall, millimeter wave scanners are a safer alternative to backscatter X-ray machines because they emit non-ionizing radiation, which is believed to be safer for individuals, and they are also less invasive and less likely to provide false positives.
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Scanners can detect drugs, currency and contraband
Airport scanners can detect drugs, currency, and contraband. Scanners use X-ray technology to see through dense materials in luggage and detect objects with different densities, including drugs hidden inside. Organic materials like drugs, food, paper, or explosives appear as shades of green or lighter colours, while metals show up as dark orange or blue. Advanced imaging technology can also detect the density and wiring components of explosives.
Millimetre wave scanners are full-body scanners that can detect items concealed on a person's body. They can identify unusual shapes or densities that stand out against the natural contours of the human body, such as drugs hidden in clothing or strapped to the body. These scanners are also effective at spotting weapons, as firearms and knives have distinct shapes and metallic compositions that are easily recognizable.
Airport scanners can also detect currency, even small amounts of metal such as coins. If currency is arranged in bundles, it is more easily detected. In addition, scanners can detect contraband, which is defined as illegal or prohibited items. This includes drugs, weapons, and explosives, as well as other items that may pose a security threat.
While airport scanners can detect these items, they do not specifically "look" for drugs or contraband. Instead, they identify abnormalities or suspicious items based on density, shape, and material composition. Trained security officers then investigate these flagged items further, using techniques such as manual searches, drug-sniffing dogs, and chemical testing to confirm the presence of illegal substances or contraband.
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Scanners produce 2D images of the body's exterior
Backscatter X-ray scanners are used in airports to detect threats such as weapons, explosives, and other contraband items. They are one of the two types of whole-body imaging technologies, the other being millimeter wave scanners. Backscatter X-ray scanners produce 2D images of the body's exterior, in contrast to millimeter wave scanners, which create 3D images.
Backscatter X-ray technology uses X-rays that scatter or "bounce" off the surface of the body and any objects next to it to generate an image. This is different from traditional X-ray machines, which detect objects by measuring the variation in X-ray intensity transmitted through the target. The energy emitted by backscatter X-rays is a type of ionizing radiation that can break chemical bonds and is considered carcinogenic even in small doses. However, the doses used in airport scanners are believed to be negligible for individuals.
Millimeter wave scanners, on the other hand, use non-ionizing radiation, which has lower energy and does not have the same cancer risks as ionizing radiation. These scanners emit extremely low-energy waves, similar to microwaves, and capture the reflected energy to create their 3D images.
While backscatter X-ray scanners produce less detailed 2D images compared to millimeter wave scanners, they are still capable of revealing sensitive information about an individual's body, such as the presence of a colostomy bag, a missing limb, or the use of a prosthesis. This has raised privacy concerns and questions about the potential violation of medical confidentiality.
In terms of safety, millimeter wave scanners are generally preferred due to the lower health risks associated with non-ionizing radiation. However, backscatter X-ray machines are considered more effective in detecting contraband items and are less likely to provide false results. Despite the potential risks, the health risks associated with backscatter X-ray scanners are believed to be minimal, and the technology is continuously evaluated for safety.
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Scanners have raised privacy concerns
In response to these concerns, many software implementations of the scan have been designed to distort private areas. According to the TSA, further distortion is used in the Phoenix airport's trial system, where photo-quality images are replaced by chalk outlines. However, some journalists have expressed concern that this blurring may allow people to carry weapons or explosives by attaching them to their genitals.
In addition, some have argued that the use of full-body scanners is a violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and can be construed as an illegal search and seizure. This is because, in addition to weapons, these machines are designed to detect drugs, currency, and contraband, which have no direct effect on airport security and passenger safety.
Moreover, concerns have been raised about the lack of data to support the risk/benefits of the operation, as backscatter X-ray machines expose humans to low doses of ionizing radiation, which is considered carcinogenic even in small amounts. However, the doses used in airport scanners are believed to be negligible for an individual. One study estimated that if one million people were exposed to 520 scans in a year, approximately four additional cancers would occur due to the scanner, compared to 600 additional cancers from higher levels of radiation during flight.
Finally, while the health effects of millimeter-wave scanners are largely unknown, at least one expert has called for a safety study on their use.
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Frequently asked questions
Backscatter scanners are advanced X-ray imaging technology used in airports to detect threats such as weapons, explosives, drugs, and other contraband items. They are used as an alternative to physical searches and can scan the front and back of an individual.
Backscatter scanners use X-rays that scatter or "bounce" off the surface of your body and any objects next to it to create an image. They do not penetrate the body like traditional X-rays, but they can reveal detailed outlines of genitalia, breasts, buttocks, and other private details.
Backscatter scanners emit ionizing radiation, which is considered carcinogenic even in small doses. However, the doses used in airport scanners are believed to be negligible for individuals. The risk of cancer from a single scan is much lower than the risk from natural background radiation or radiation exposure during air travel.
Backscatter scanners can reveal sensitive medical information, such as the use of a colostomy bag or the presence of a prosthesis. They can also be seen as a violation of religious teachings on modesty and privacy. To address these concerns, measures have been implemented, such as blurring faces, using generic body outlines, and separating security personnel from passengers during scanning.
