Roberta Aguirre
Airport body scanners use millimetre wave technology to create a three-dimensional image of an individual's form. This technology does not emit ionizing radiation, unlike backscatter X-ray scanners, which are used outside of Australia. While airport X-ray scanners are not designed to detect cancer, they can identify scar tissue or irregularities in the skin. The risk of cancer from exposure to ionizing radiation is generally low, and the doses used in airport scans are significantly lower than those used in medical X-rays and CT scans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can airport X-ray detect cancer? | No, airport X-ray scanners cannot detect cancer. |
| Cancer detection technology | The technology used by airport X-ray scanners has been adapted for cancer detection. However, it cannot detect cancer in the skin or other parts of the body. |
| Cancer risk from airport X-rays | The risk of cancer from airport X-rays is considered low due to the exceedingly low doses used. An individual would need to undergo thousands of airport scans to equal the exposure of a single dental X-ray or chest X-ray. |
| Type of radiation used | Millimetre-wave technology, which is a non-ionizing form of radiation similar to that emitted by mobile phones. Outside Australia, some airports may use backscatter X-ray technology, which applies very low doses of ionizing radiation. |
| Safety considerations | The potential for ionizing radiation to cause damage depends on the dose. At low doses, cells can repair damage rapidly, while at moderate to high doses, cells can be permanently changed or unable to be replaced quickly enough, leading to cancer or other health issues. |
| Cancer risk projection limitations | Available models for estimating cancer risk from airport X-rays are inaccurate due to the unique distribution of exposure from these scanners to the skin and breast tissue. |
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What You'll Learn
- Airport scanners use millimetre wave technology, which is non-ionising radiation
- Millimetre waves are similar to the radio waves emitted by mobile phones
- Ionising radiation from medical imaging slightly increases cancer risk, but airport scanners use much lower doses
- Airport scanners can detect scar tissue or irregularities in the skin, but not cancer
- The risk of cancer from airport scanners is trivial, but the high number of passengers means even a small risk could have large effects
Airport scanners use millimetre wave technology, which is non-ionising radiation
Airport body scanners use millimetre wave technology, a form of non-ionising electromagnetic radiation. This means that millimetre waves do not carry enough energy to ionise atoms or molecules. In contrast, X-rays are an example of ionising radiation, which can cause damage to DNA and other biological tissues.
Millimetre wave scanners direct millimetre wave energy at the subject and interpret the reflected energy. They can also create images using only ambient radiation and radiation emitted from the human body or objects. The millimetre wave is transmitted from two antennas simultaneously as they rotate around the body.
Millimetre wave radiation is considered safe for several reasons. Firstly, it is a form of non-ionising radiation, which means it cannot cause cancers by radiolytic DNA bond cleavage. Secondly, the shallow penetration depth of millimetre waves into tissue (typically less than 1 mm) means that acute biological effects of irradiation are localised in the epidermal and dermal layers and manifest primarily as thermal effects. There is no clear evidence to date of harmful effects other than those caused by localised heating and ensuing chemical changes.
While airport scanners do not detect cancer, the technology has been used in a medical setting to detect skin irregularities. Additionally, scar tissue or similar anomalies can light up airport scanners, which has led to pat-downs to resolve these anomalies.
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Millimetre waves are similar to the radio waves emitted by mobile phones
Airport body scanners use backscatter X-rays or millimetre waves to screen passengers. While these scanners do not detect cancer, they can be used to predict breast cancer risk as the X-rays are concentrated in breast tissue.
The antennas in mobile phones emit RF radiation, with the parts of the body nearest to the antenna absorbing this energy and converting it to heat or synchronised molecular vibrations. This is similar to millimetre waves, which also do not penetrate the skin and only detect anomalies. Millimetre waves penetrate less deeply into biological tissue than microwaves and are mainly absorbed within the first centimetres of the body surface.
While mobile phones emit low levels of radiation, there is currently no consistent evidence that this increases cancer risk in humans. The only consistently recognized biological effect of radiofrequency radiation in humans is heating.
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Ionising radiation from medical imaging slightly increases cancer risk, but airport scanners use much lower doses
Ionising radiation from medical imaging has been found to slightly increase the risk of cancer. However, the amount of radiation used is small, and the risk is low. Medical imaging, including X-rays and CT scans, is crucial for diagnosing illnesses and conditions. The benefits of these scans in terms of correct diagnosis and treatment outweigh the potential harm from radiation exposure.
The UK government has implemented guidelines to regulate the use of ionising radiation in medical scans, ensuring that they are only performed when necessary and utilise the lowest possible dose of radiation to obtain the required imaging results. Despite this, the increased use of medical imaging has led to a rise in overall radiation exposure, with CT scans alone accounting for 24% of radiation exposure in the United States.
While medical imaging can increase cancer risk, airport scanners use much lower doses of radiation. An individual would need to undergo an exceedingly high number of airport scans to match the radiation exposure of a single dental X-ray or chest X-ray. For example, it would take 50 airport scans to equal the exposure of a dental X-ray and 1,000 scans to match a chest X-ray. The doses from airport scanners are so low that it is uncertain if they pose any harm.
Furthermore, not all airport scanners use ionising radiation. Millimeter-wave scanners, for instance, use a form of radio waves that do not penetrate the skin and are not associated with cancer risk. While backscatter X-ray scanners at airports do use ionising radiation, the exposure is concentrated in the superficial tissues, primarily the skin. However, there is no accepted mathematical model to understand the relationship between skin exposure and skin cancer risk from these scanners.
In summary, while ionising radiation from medical imaging can slightly increase cancer risk, airport scanners utilise significantly lower doses, and their potential harm is uncertain. The benefits of medical imaging in diagnosis and treatment outweigh the risks, and regulations are in place to minimise radiation exposure.
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Airport scanners can detect scar tissue or irregularities in the skin, but not cancer
While airport scanners cannot detect cancer, they can detect scar tissue or irregularities in the skin. The machines used at airports do not detect skin diseases, but the technology has been adapted for that purpose in a medical setting.
Millimetre wave body scanners use non-ionising radiation, similar to that emitted by mobile phones. This type of radiation does not penetrate the skin, but it can detect anomalies on a person's body. Clothing and other organic materials appear translucent to millimetre waves, and the machines collect the radio waves that are reflected by the body to create a three-dimensional image. This image is generic and does not compromise passengers' privacy or show human anatomy.
Outside of Australia, some airports may use backscatter X-ray technology, which applies very low amounts of ionising radiation. This type of radiation is reflected off the person being screened and is typically many times less than a medical X-ray. Even so, there is no accepted mathematical model for understanding the relationship between skin exposure to this type of radiation and the risk of skin cancer.
The risk of cancer from medical scans like X-rays and CT scans is generally considered low, and the benefit of diagnosing and treating health conditions usually outweighs any potential harm from the radiation. However, it is important to note that the cancer risk from radiation exposure is directly proportional to the dose, and every exposure carries some risk, even the exceedingly small doses of airport scans.
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The risk of cancer from airport scanners is trivial, but the high number of passengers means even a small risk could have large effects
While airport scanners cannot detect cancer, concerns have been raised about the safety of backscatter X-ray scanners, which, unlike millimetre wave scanners, use ionizing radiation. The potential for ionizing radiation to cause harm depends on the dose. At low doses, radiation causes biological damage, but cells can repair this damage rapidly. Moderate doses can cause permanent changes to cells, making them cancerous or leading to other abnormalities. However, the doses of ionizing radiation emitted by backscatter X-ray scanners are extremely low, and the risk of harm is considered trivial by the TSA.
That said, even a small risk per person could have large effects when considering the high number of passengers passing through airports each year. To estimate the risk of cancer from backscatter X-ray scanners, several groups have developed models based on the increase in cancer cases per sievert of exposure to ionizing radiation. These models assume a linear dose-risk relationship, with the risk of cancer directly proportional to the dose of radiation. However, it is important to note that these models may not be accurate, as they do not account for the unique distribution of exposure from airport scanners, which is concentrated in the superficial tissues, primarily the skin.
The risk of cancer from airport scanners is further contextualized when compared to other sources of radiation exposure. For example, an individual would need to undergo 50 airport scans to equal the exposure of a single dental X-ray, 1,000 airport scans for a chest X-ray, and 200,000 airport scans for an abdominal and pelvic CT scan. Additionally, we are exposed to small amounts of ionizing radiation from natural sources every day, such as radon gas in the air, soil, and water. While the risk of cancer from airport scanners is minimal, the high volume of passengers and the cumulative effects of radiation exposure from various sources could potentially have larger implications.
It is worth noting that millimetre wave technology, which is used in Australian international gateway airports and other overseas airports, does not emit ionizing radiation and is considered safe. This technology uses radiofrequency radiation, similar to that emitted by mobile phones, to create a three-dimensional image without compromising passengers' privacy or showing human anatomy. While the use of millimetre wave technology addresses concerns about the potential risks associated with backscatter X-ray scanners, the discussion highlights the ongoing efforts to balance security measures with ensuring the safety and well-being of travellers.
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Frequently asked questions
No, airport X-rays cannot detect cancer.
Airport X-rays are used for security screening and passenger protection. They help detect objects that may pose a security risk.
The doses of radiation emitted by airport X-ray scanners are extremely low. While there may be some risk associated with any exposure to radiation, the levels at airport security are not high enough to cause harm.
Medical X-rays that use ionizing radiation can slightly increase the risk of cancer. However, the amount of radiation used is small, and the risk is considered low.
Yes, some airports use millimetre wave scanners, which use non-ionizing radiation similar to radio waves. These scanners create a 3D image of a person's form without compromising privacy or showing human anatomy.
