Airport Security Scanners: Safe or Scary?

Ever stood in the queue at Malta International Airport, watching as fellow passengers shuffle through the body scanner, wondering if that harmless-looking machine is secretly zapping you with dangerous radiation? You’re not alone. But fear not, dear reader, for we’re about to debunk this myth and set your mind at ease.

Malta’s bustling airport, a gateway to the world for our tiny island nation, sees thousands of passengers daily. And with each one comes the inevitable question: Are those security scanners safe?

Airport security scanners, like the ones you’d find at MIA, use one of two technologies: millimeter wave or backscatter X-ray. The former uses non-ionizing radio waves, similar to those used in mobile phones, to create a 3D image of your body. The latter, which is less common these days, uses low-dose X-rays.

Let’s focus on the one you’re most likely to encounter at Malta’s airport: the millimeter wave scanner. It’s essentially a high-tech version of the metal detectors you’ve been walking through for years.

No, airport security scanners are not dangerous. Here’s why:

• Low Energy: Millimeter wave scanners operate at a frequency of 24 GHz, which is far lower than the frequencies used in medical imaging or even your microwave oven. They simply don’t have the energy to cause harm.
• Non-Ionizing Radiation: Unlike X-rays, which are ionizing and can cause damage to cells, millimeter waves are non-ionizing. They can’t cause the kind of cellular damage that leads to cancer or other health issues.
• Short Exposure Time: The time you spend in the scanner is mere seconds. Even if these machines did emit harmful radiation (which they don’t), the brief exposure time makes any potential risk negligible.

In fact, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks have both concluded that these scanners are safe for all passengers, including children and pregnant women.

While the scanners themselves are safe, privacy concerns are valid. The millimeter wave scanners can reveal quite a bit of detail, including the outline of your body and any objects you’re carrying. However, the images are reviewed by a TSA officer in a separate room, and the system is designed to blur faces and other identifying features.

If you’re still uncomfortable with the idea, you can opt out of the scanner and request a pat-down instead. Just be prepared for a slightly longer security process.

No, you shouldn’t. The next time you’re at Malta International Airport, waiting your turn to pass through the scanner, remember that it’s there to keep you safe, not to harm you. It’s just another part of the process that gets you one step closer to your destination.

As for me, I’ll be the one breezing through the scanner, secure in the knowledge that it’s not zapping me with dangerous radiation. I’ll see you on the other side!