Manchester Airport body scanners to be tested for health risks
17.11.11
Passenger body scanners - the so-called 'naked' scanners - that use x-rays such as those at Manchester Airport are to be tested by the European Commission to assess if they pose a health risk. The airport has been trialling back scatter body scanners in security checks since 2009, and will continue using the scanners while the tests are carried out.
The back scatter scanners use a low dose of x-rays to scan through clothing producing ‘naked’ images of passengers. The x-ray dose has been assessed as being equivalent to that received in less than two minutes of flying in an aircraft at cruising height.
The UK Health Protection Agency and US health authorities have already tested the scanners and said that they pose a ‘negligible’ risk to health. However, the EC introduced new standards on the use of body scanners this week, and has stopped any further trials of those using x-rays while they are tested by its specialist health committee, with a report expected in March 2012. Manchester Airport has been given permission to continue trialling the scanners until November 2012.
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