Can Airport Body Scanners Detect Health Issues?

Published: 6 Oct 2024

Security today at airports has increased and one of the most known security procedures is the body scanner. Most travelers have experienced standing in front of a machine/scanner for a few seconds till the device has done processing. But as these scanners get more advanced, many people wonder: can airport body scanners detect health issues like tumors, cancer, or inflammation?

This article will explore what airport body scanners are designed to detect and whether they have the capability to identify certain health problems.

Table of Content

What Are Airport Body Scanners, and How Do They Work?
1. Millimeter Wave Scanners
2. Backscatter X-ray Scanners
Can Airport Body Scanners Detect Health Issues?
Interesting Facts
Why Airport Scanners Cannot Diagnose Health Issues
Final Thoughts

What Are Airport Body Scanners, and How Do They Work?

Airport body scanners are devices used at security checkpoints to detect hidden objects or prohibited items, ensuring passenger safety. There are two main types of scanners:

Millimeter Wave Scanners

Millimeter Wave Scanners utilize non-ionizing radio frequency which reflects off the body to give the scanner a clear picture of the body. They can scan a person’s body when the clothes are worn to check if the person has hidden any forbidden things like knives or any contrabands but they cannot show the things that are deep in the body.

Backscatter X-ray Scanners

Backscatter X-ray Scanners which use low-intensity X-rays that bounce off objects with densities higher than the substance of the X-ray such as metals or plastics produce an image of what a person might be carrying. Such scanners are not commonly in use because of issues concerning radiation.

Both scanners are incredibly effective at identifying objects like guns, knives, or other contraband. However, their ability to detect internal health issues is limited.

Can Airport Body Scanners Detect Health Issues?

The short answer is no, airport body scanners are not designed to detect health problems. The main purpose of these body scanners is to ensure security and recover dangerous goods or contraband items. However, they can highlight anomalies on the surface of the body, such as large masses, but these are not for medical diagnosis.

Let’s explore a few common health-related FAQs:

Can Airport Body Scanners Detect Tumors?

A tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue that can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). There are airport scanners, especially those with Millimeter wave technology that produce an image of the skin surface but are not invasive enough to feel beyond the surface for things such as tumors.

Current devices like millimeter wave scanners are designed to identify external irregularities, metal objects, or any other thing under clothing. As tumors are formed inside the body these scanners are unable to detect them.

In short, the results of the study show that airport scanners cannot detect tumors. A proper medical diagnosis requires imaging technologies like MRIs or CT scans, which delve deeper into the body’s tissues and generate a clearer image.

Can Airport Scanners Detect Inflammation?

Inflammation is an internal response by the immune system of your body, often causing swelling, redness, or pain. Its name refers to the fact that it is a condition of tissues and thus its manifestations cannot ordinarily be seen from the exterior. Moreover, airport scanners are designed to search for gross physical objects and cannot show inflammation of the body’s inner tissues and fluids.

Therefore, airport scanners cannot detect inflammation. Only medical tests such as blood tests or imaging studies ordered by a doctor can properly diagnose inflammation.

Can Airport Scanners Detect Cancer?

Cancer occurs when cells in the body grow uncontrollably, and it often forms tumors or spreads through tissues. As previously mentioned, airport scanners do not penetrate deeply into the body and are not designed to look for medical anomalies like cancer, etc.

Devices like MRIs or CT scans can detect tumors, abnormal growths, and other cancer indicators, but airport scanners cannot.

Can Airport Scanners Detect Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is typically found through methods like mammograms, ultrasounds, or MRI scans, which are designed to identify abnormalities within breast tissue. So, airport body scanners cannot detect breast cancer because they can not penetrate deep to identify changes in tissues or cellular growth.

Why Does My Groin Set Off Airport Security?

Most people get confused when certain areas of their body, such as their groin, trigger alarms during airport security checks. The main reasons why this might happen include:

Metallic Objects: The groin area often contains items like belts, piercings, zippers, or even certain fabrics with metal threads that can set off alarms.
Sweat or Moisture: Since the groin area is prone to sweating, sweating might be unusual, and this might cause the scanner to respond.
Medical Implants: If you have metal implants or prosthetics near the groin, such as a hip replacement or any other, this could trigger the machine.
Clothing: Tight clothing or fabric with unusual textures can sometimes distort the body scan, causing the scanner to interpret it as an unusual object.

Interesting Facts

Here are some interesting facts related to airport body scanners:

Millimeter wave scanners use harmless non-ionizing radiation that is safe for all passengers.
Backscatter X-ray scanners were mostly replaced due to radiation and privacy concerns.
Scanners now produce a generic human image to protect privacy, not a detailed body scan.
Airport body scanners cannot be used for medical diagnoses as they only scan the body’s surface.
False alarms can occur due to clothing folds, buttons, or even sweat.
Millimeter wave scanners can detect non-metallic items, such as plastics and liquids.
Travelers can opt for a manual pat-down instead of using the body scanner.
Some people report hidden tattoos or piercings triggering scanner alerts.
Thick or textured clothing can confuse scanners, leading to false positives.
Scanners may miss very small items, such as tiny coins or bra underwires.

Why Airport Scanners Cannot Diagnose Health Issues

The airport scanners are built for security, not medical purposes. The technology used in these scanners, especially millimeter wave scanners, is designed to identify external threats. Some of the key differences are as follows:

Medical scanners (like MRIs, CTs, and mammograms) are specifically engineered to take detailed images of your body’s internal structure, allowing doctors to assess abnormalities and diagnose conditions.
Airport scanners target the surface of the body, focusing on spotting items concealed under clothing. They don’t penetrate the body to depth or detail to assess what’s happening inside your organs or tissues.

Final Thoughts

Airport body scanners are designed to detect dangerous goods and contraband items, not to detect any health issues. They are very good at preventing prohibited items from getting to travelers, but they can’t reveal internal conditions such as tumors, inflammation, or cancer.

This article covers the primary functions of airport body scanners and clears up common misconceptions about their ability to detect health issues. The goal is to ensure that readers feel informed and at ease when traveling.