The halted terrorist attack on a passenger jet heading to Detroit, where the would be terrorist had explosives in his under-wear, has got governments around the world deciding to install security scanners at airports in order to, hopefully, stop any other suicidal terrorist from taking explosives onto commercial airlines.

Airport Full body scanners use one ot two technologies - millimeter wave sensors or backscatter X-rays. As nearly all security scanners installed are the backscatter type this article will be about these only. The question that both passengers and governments really should be asking but are not doing so is. Is the full body scanner safe to use? Will regular airline passengers who are scanned several times a year experience any detrimental consequences to their health?

X-rays:

X-rays, also called Rontgen Rays, are a form of ionizing radiation. If you have at any time had an X-ray you will be aware that while the Radiologists takes the X-ray he stands at the back of a radiation proof screen so as to protect herself from the ionizing radiation.

If you have had a X-ray when at the dental practitioners you will see that the Dentist will also stand behind a screen or leave the room while the X-ray is taken. Radiologists and Dental practitioners realize that exposure to X-rays could cause cancer.

As per Cancer Research UK. The proportion of cancers due to X-rays is 0.6 percent.

Mammograms:

Women at high risk -- individuals with a hereditary or familial predisposition to breast tumors -- who have received 5 or more mammograms in their twenties were 2.5 times more likely to develop breast malignant tumors as compared to high-risk women who has not had any kind of mammograms.

Elderly females at high risk increased their likelihood of having breast cancer by 1.5 times because of mammograms. Basically, in high-risk females, mammograms increase the chances of having breast cancer. The more mammograms you have the higher the likelihood of getting malignant tumors.

After examining the clinical data the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has made new suggestions concerning mammograms.

Specifically, that women younger than 50 should not have mammograms unless that there exists a good reason for doing so. That women over 50 should only get them every second year. The radiation from mammograms might be low-dose radiation but it is still X-rays. The exact same kind of ionizing radiation utilized in backscatter X-ray full body scanning equipment.

If getting a mammogram increases the risk of a female having breast cancer then what about the level of ionizing radiation a woman might be receiving if she were being scanned with a Backscatter X-ray full body scanner whenever she took a journey upon a commercial airline.

CT Scans:

There is more than enough proof to demonstrate that exposure to X-rays is harmful to your health. It might be recommended to reduce exposure to ionizing radiation whenever possible. One way to achieve this is to not have any kind of unnecessary medical X-rays. For example some individuals get annual full body CT scans as part of an annual health examination.

As per a research report in the New England Journal of Medicine a third of all CT scans will be clinically unnecessary. Considering that during the year 2006, in the United States, there was greater than 62 million CT scans, that means there were over 20 million nonessential CT scans done that year.

All airports will ultimately have body scanners installed for security purposes. You may currently opt out of the airport body scanner and get a pat-down, but this may change any time sooner or later as airports really want everyone to go through the full body scanner.

In the event you travel on a regular basis then, according to the medical research, you will be exposing yourself to X-rays which may cause you to suffer severe medical problems.

Air Charter Is The Finest Option Which You Possess For Vacationing
In times of hardship you might be wondering why businesses like air charter services are still doing great. After all aren't they a more luxurious business and not a necessity?

Jet Charter - Do Anything You Like In Plane And Arrive In A Relaxed Mood
Business meetings can be pretty stressful at times. If you've ever had to be in attendance at one you'll know it's true. It gets worse still if you're expected to be one of the main parties in attendance, instead of just having to take notes.

A Private Jet - Excellent Trip, Comfort & Customised Service. But Cost?
Hmm, interesting question isn't it? For many people the thought of a private jet brings forward images of rock stars, high flying businessmen and a far more expensive than anything you could imagine. But how truthful is this image, and how helpful - or harmful?

Cheapest Air Fare - Some Easy Tips
Air travel was once viewed as a relatively more expensive mode of transport that catered to demographics that have money to spare. That perception has changed dramatically with the advent of "no frills" airlines.

Bargain Airfare - Essential Pointers Inside
Air travel has become a very affordable way to get to various destinations and this is due to airlines offering bargain airline tickets through their budget deals.