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pseudopad t1_iy32irl wrote

Reply to comment by Aussie_Mo_Bro in ELI5: How are the Xray machines at airports not super dangerous? by Curious-Nothing6234

That's correct, but OP wasn't talking about the danger to passengers who only pass by security a few times a month or year, they're talking about the operators who sit there all day long, 5 days a week, the whole year.

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Target880 t1_iy3jto3 wrote

The devices that scan the luggage with X-rays are shielded so very little leaks out. They are large metal boxes with a scanner inside and the wall of them absorbs X- rays. The ray is also going in one direction, up or down so not toward where the baggage enters and exits.

The curtains the luggage passes through are rubber with lead in them and are X-ray shields. You have multiple of them per side if I am not mistaken.

So the number of X-Rays that leak out is minimal.

We do not use a small contained unit like that for humans because it would be quite impractical and not a great experience for the patient. We use larger protective boxes that fit humans and are not claustrophobic this is whole rooms

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pseudopad t1_iy3opit wrote

I know, and OP got this answer already. I was just saying that the previous commenter was misunderstanding the original question.

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