Sachin Walls
Airport body scanners have been a topic of concern for many travellers, with questions about whether they show your naked body on the screen. While older machines that are no longer used in checkpoints could show images of passengers' naked bodies, modern scanners in the US and Canada use millimeter-wave technology, which does not reveal the naked body or what's inside it. Instead, security staff see a generic human shape with no specific identifying features. These scanners are safe for pregnant people and those with pacemakers, and they can detect metallic and non-metallic items, including explosives. While they can detect some items inside body cavities, they cannot detect health issues like tumours or inflammation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can airport scanners see your naked body? | No, airport scanners do not show your naked body on the screen. |
| Do airport scanners see inside your body? | No, airport scanners do not see inside your body. |
| Do airport scanners detect metal objects? | Yes, airport scanners can detect metal objects. |
| Do airport scanners detect non-metal objects? | Yes, airport scanners can detect non-metal objects. |
| Do airport scanners detect health issues? | No, airport scanners cannot detect health issues such as tumours or inflammation. |
| Are airport scanners safe for pregnant people? | Yes, airport scanners that use millimeter-wave technology, like those in the US and Canada, are safe for pregnant people. |
| Are airport scanners safe for people with pacemakers? | Yes, airport scanners using millimeter-wave technology, like those in the US and Canada, are safe for people with pacemakers. |
| Are airport scanners safe for people with breast implants? | Yes, it is safe for travellers with breast implants to go through airport scanners. |
| Are airport scanners safe for people with ostomy pouches? | Yes, travellers with ostomy pouches can go through the full-body scanner, the metal detector, or a pat-down without having to empty the pouch or show it to the TSA agent. |
| Can airport scanners detect drugs? | Airport scanners cannot detect drugs inside the body, but they can provide visual clues of drugs hidden under clothes or in baggage. |
| Can airport scanners detect money? | Yes, a good X-ray scanner will always detect money. |
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What You'll Learn
Airport scanners cannot see inside your body
Airport body scanners cannot see inside your body. They use millimeter-wave technology, which is safe for pregnant people, and unlike x-ray technology, it only checks the contour of the body. The generic human shape is the same for every traveler going through an airport scanner. The machines send millimeter waves toward a passenger's insides, but these waves do not penetrate the skin. They reflect off the passenger's skin and bounce back an image, which is interpreted by the machine. This image is of a generic mannequin and does not reveal the naked body or the insides of the body.
While the machines can detect metallic and non-metallic objects, they cannot detect health issues such as tumors or inflammation. They also cannot detect drugs or hazardous liquids stashed inside a body cavity.
Breast implants will not be visible to the TSA agent, but breast prostheses will be detected during a full-body scan. Similarly, while a menstrual cup will not set off the machine, tampons and piercings may be detected.
Passengers suspected of swallowing drugs are scanned with a full-body X-ray machine, which can detect packages in the stomach. However, this is not the same technology used in the full-body scanners in the US and Canada, which do not see inside the body.
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Scanners use millimeter-wave technology, not X-rays
Airport body scanners do not reveal your naked body or the insides of your body. Instead, security staff see a generic human shape that resembles a doll. These scanners use millimetre-wave technology, not X-rays.
Millimetre-wave technology only checks the contour of the body and does not reveal what's inside a person's body. It detects the wide range of metallic and non-metallic threats in a matter of seconds. The machines send millimetre waves towards a passenger's insides, and these waves reflect off the skin and bounce back an image, which is interpreted by the machine.
Millimetre waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation. They are especially important in radio broadcasting and cell phone transmissions. They tend to pass through most materials, such as clothing, making them ideal for scanning technologies.
Millimetre wave scanners produce their waves with a series of small, disc-like transmitters stacked on one another. They emit a special type of microwave, not X-ray. Two rotating transmitters produce the waves as a passenger stands still inside the machine.
Millimetre wave scanners are safer than X-ray scanners. X-rays are ionizing radiation and are more energetic than millimetre waves. They raise concerns about possible mutagenic potential.
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Scanners cannot detect health issues like tumours
Airport body scanners, particularly those in the US and Canada, use millimetre-wave technology. This technology does not reveal what is inside a person's body. Unlike X-ray technology, millimetre-wave technology only checks the contour of the body. Hence, it cannot detect health issues like tumours or inflammation. Instead, airport security staff see a generic human shape that resembles a doll.
Millimetre-wave technology is also safe for pregnant people. While X-ray machines and metal detectors pose a very limited risk to those wearing pacemakers, millimetre-wave technology is also considered safe for people with pacemakers.
Although millimetre-wave technology cannot detect tumours, it can detect scar tissue or loose skin. One person who had a hysterectomy with a large scar in the hip area reported always being subjected to a pat-down following the scan. Another person who had a bilateral mastectomy with implant reconstruction and radiation to the right breast also reported that their right breast lit up during a security scan, requiring a pat-down.
In one case, a businessman's nodular melanoma was detected by an airport full-body scanner. For about 20 flights over two months, the scanner singled out an area on his left lower leg for a pat-down. Following a dermatological examination, a nodular melanoma was discovered in this area and surgically removed. However, in its current form, full-body scanning is not sensitive or specific enough to become a recommended screening tool for melanoma.
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Scanners can detect breast prostheses, not implants
Airport body scanners are designed to detect metal and non-metal objects concealed under clothing. While the scanners do not reveal a person's naked body, they can detect items located between the scanner and the skin.
Breast prostheses are classified as medical devices and are not restricted by liquid or gel regulations. However, they may be detected by body scanners, which could prompt additional screening. This is because prostheses can show up as anomalies on the scan. Therefore, travellers with breast prostheses should inform TSA agents before proceeding into the scanner.
On the other hand, breast implants are not visible to TSA agents during screening. While some sources suggest that newer scanners can detect implants, this is not a cause for concern, as TSA agents are not interested in breast enhancements. They are, however, concerned with items that could be harmful to passengers.
In summary, travellers with breast prostheses may be subject to additional screening, whereas those with breast implants will not be detected and do not need to inform TSA agents.
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Scanners can detect the presence of drugs
Airport body scanners are typically safe and effective in detecting threats to security, including metallic and non-metallic objects. These scanners use Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) and millimetre-wave technology to detect a wide range of metallic and non-metallic threats, including explosives. Importantly, these scanners do not reveal a person's naked body or their insides; instead, security staff sees a generic human shape.
While body scanners can detect metallic and non-metallic objects, they do not see inside body cavities. Therefore, they would not detect drugs or hazardous liquids concealed within a body cavity. However, if drugs or other contraband are in a person's pockets or luggage, they may be detected by the scanners.
The scanners can detect the presence of organic materials, which drugs are, and they can distinguish between metallic, non-metallic, and organic substances. They can also determine the density of objects, which can provide clues about the nature of the scanned items. For example, X-ray scanners can detect money due to its unique characteristics.
Additionally, some scanners, like attenuation imaging scanners (ATI), are designed to protect privacy while effectively detecting threats. These scanners show only a generic outline without identifying gender or body type. ATI scanners are useful for detecting non-metallic objects, making them suitable for detecting certain drugs and explosives.
In summary, airport scanners can detect the presence of drugs, especially if they are in pockets, luggage, or swallowed, but they cannot see inside body cavities. The detection of drugs also relies on the skills of security officers who interpret the scanner images and decide if further searches are necessary.
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Frequently asked questions
Airport body scanners can detect metallic and non-metallic objects on your body, but they do not reveal your naked body.
Airport scanners use advanced imaging technology (AIT) and millimeter-wave technology to detect objects.
No, airport scanners do not see under the skin. They are not X-ray machines and do not use ionizing radiation.
Airport scanners can detect drugs hidden under clothes or in baggage. However, they cannot detect drugs inside body cavities.
No, breast implants will not be visible to the TSA agent. However, breast prostheses will be detected during a full-body scan.
