Owais Crawford
Airport scanners are a regular part of the travel experience, but what exactly do they see? The short answer is: a lot. Airport scanners can detect both metallic and non-metallic objects, including organic materials like food and toothpaste, and inorganic materials like weapons and plastic. They can also identify the density of objects, which helps to determine whether a passenger is carrying illegal substances. While they cannot see inside body cavities, full-body scanners can detect masses either on the body or hidden underneath clothing. Newer Advanced Image Technology (AIT) scanners are designed to protect passengers' privacy by showing only a generic outline. However, some travellers still experience airport security scanning as an invasion of privacy, and older backscatter scanners, which show detailed images of the body beneath clothing, are still used in major US, UK, and European airports.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of scanner | Full-body scanners, Millimeter-wave scanners, Backscatter X-ray scanners, Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) scanners, Terahertz scanners |
| What they can detect | Metallic and non-metallic objects, organic and inorganic materials, objects hidden under clothes, objects inside luggage |
| Privacy features | Newer scanners show a generic outline that does not reveal gender or body type |
| What they can't detect | Objects inside body cavities, exact composition of objects |
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What You'll Learn
Metallic objects
Metal objects are detectable by airport scanners. Metal detectors and millimetre-wave machines use low-energy, non-ionizing radiation to scan surfaces and detect metal objects. The energy that bounces back from the scanned surface will show the objects that are present, or it can generate an image that TSA agents can use to show items that may need more investigation.
Metal detectors ignore very small amounts of metal, like the button on jeans or small earrings. However, they can detect dense objects, such as gold, in luggage. If a dense object is detected, the passenger may be pulled aside for extra screening.
Full-body scanners can also detect metallic objects on the exterior of the body. These scanners use millimetre-wave imaging technology to bounce electromagnetic waves off the traveller to provide an animated image like a paper doll to detect potential threats.
Metal implants in the body can trigger a warning for full-body scanners as the implants are a dense material. However, titanium does not seem to set off metal detectors, according to some people with titanium plates in their skull.
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Organic materials
Airport scanners use X-ray radiation to create detailed images of the contents of luggage, differentiating materials based on how they absorb X-rays. Organic materials like food, paper, and drugs typically appear as shades of green or light orange on the scanner's screen, while metal objects show up as dark orange or blue.
While scanners cannot directly identify organic materials like drugs or explosives, they can provide visual clues. Trained security officers will further investigate any suspicious organic material. Advanced imaging technology in scanners can also detect non-metallic threats and identify a range of organic and chemical compounds, including explosives.
In addition to luggage scanners, millimeter-wave scanners are used to detect objects concealed on a person's body. These scanners emit low-energy waves that pass through clothing, allowing for the detection of hidden objects without physical contact. These scanners are particularly useful for detecting drugs or other contraband that individuals may attempt to smuggle in creative ways, such as by swallowing pills or hiding them in body cavities.
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Pills
Airport scanners can detect pills, regardless of whether they are legal or illegal, and whether they are in plastic pill bottles or other metallic or non-metallic containers. However, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) does not actively search for drugs, and their primary concern is to prevent potential threats to air travel. Therefore, unless you are carrying a large quantity of pills or attempting to hide them, they are unlikely to arouse suspicion.
While airport scanners cannot directly identify the composition of pills, they can differentiate between organic and inorganic materials, and determine an object's density. Organic materials, such as drugs, food, explosives, or paper, are marked in orange. Inorganic materials, such as metals, are shown in dark blue or green, depending on their density.
Passengers suspected of swallowing drugs may be scanned using a full-body X-ray machine, which can detect packages in the stomach. If illegal drugs are found, TSA officers are required to notify local authorities, who will then decide on the appropriate course of action.
It is important to note that while airport scanners can detect pills, the TSA does not require passengers to present or declare their medication. However, liquid medications are subject to additional screening, and passengers should inform officers about medically required liquids at the start of the screening process.
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Weapons and explosives
Airport security systems use various technologies to detect weapons and explosives, including metal detectors, full-body scanners, backscatter X-ray machines, and millimeter wave scanners. These scanners use electromagnetic waves, ionizing radiation, or non-ionizing radiation to identify potential threats.
Metal detectors use magnetic fields to identify metal objects, and they are commonly used at airport security checkpoints. They can detect unlawful metals hidden in clothing or carried by individuals. However, metal detectors may ignore very small amounts of metal, such as buttons, earrings, or other accessories.
Full-body scanners, also known as advanced imaging technology (AIT) or millimeter wave scanners, create generic images of the body to detect metallic and non-metallic threat items. They can identify a wide range of items, including weapons and explosives, hidden under multiple layers of clothing. While full-body scanners are effective, they are not perfect and can be bypassed using certain concealment techniques or by exploiting software vulnerabilities.
Backscatter X-ray machines are another type of scanner used in airports. These machines use a low dose of ionizing radiation to create images of scanned individuals and their luggage. They can detect unlawful devices and hidden objects, including weapons and explosives.
While airport scanners are generally effective at detecting weapons and explosives, they have limitations. For example, some explosives or items hidden in body cavities may not be detectable by the scanners. Additionally, as previously mentioned, concealment techniques and software attacks can compromise the security of these scanners. Therefore, multiple layers of security, including pat-downs, luggage inspections, and trace explosive detection, are employed to enhance overall security at airports.
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Drugs
Airport scanners cannot specifically detect drugs, but they can identify suspicious items based on density, shape, and material composition. Drugs, especially when compressed, may show up as dense, opaque masses on scanners, and the software will flag any dense material that deviates from the expected density of normal items. Unusual packaging or irregularities in shapes and layers can also be spotted during an X-ray scan. Organic materials, such as drugs, food, and explosives, are marked with orange colour. While scanners cannot specifically identify drugs from an image, trained security officers will investigate suspicious organic material further.
Passengers suspected of swallowing drugs are scanned with a full-body X-ray machine, which can detect packages in the stomach, even if the pills are contained in non-metallic or metallic bottles. Pills in liquid form, carried in hand luggage, must not exceed 3.4 ounces or 100ml.
Advanced detection technologies like the Matrixcope utilize a combination of X-rays, millimeter waves, and computed tomography (CT) to detect anomalies in luggage or on individuals. This technology provides clearer, more detailed visuals, aiding security personnel in efficiently identifying potential threats and maintaining airport safety.
In addition to scanner technology, drug detection in airports may involve the use of sniffer dogs, with intel based on flight origins and countries visited.
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Frequently asked questions
There are two main types of airport scanners: X-ray scanners and millimeter wave scanners. X-ray scanners are used to screen luggage and carry-on items, while millimeter wave scanners are used to scan a person's body.
X-ray scanners can detect a wide range of items, including weapons, explosives, drugs, and inorganic substances. They can also identify metallic and non-metallic objects, as well as organic materials like food or clothing.
Millimeter wave scanners use non-ionizing electromagnetic waves or microwaves to create a 3D image of a person's body. They can detect metallic and non-metallic items, weapons, explosives, liquids, sharp objects, and pills.
No, airport scanners do not show your naked body on the screen. While older versions of the scanners did not have privacy protections, newer scanners use advanced imaging technology (AIT) and millimeter wave imaging to ensure privacy.
