Exposure to Phograhic Film in Airport X-ray Scanners

[Gerald Nicholls <GNICHOLL@dep.state.nj.us>]

Recently a message was posted on a list server devoted to photography
stating that a photographer preparing to board a plane was told by a
security staff member that his film would receive more exposure to
radiation during his transcontinental flight than it did from passing it
through the x-ray scanner.  A debate ensued as to whether or not the
statement made by the security staff member was correct.  The
photographic list server must be a very popular one since the debate
prompted calls to my office.

Does anyone have any actual measurements of or references to the
exposure to objects sent through x-ray scanners at airports?  

An interesting aspect of the debate is that some well-traveled
photographers advocated keeping a role of fast ISO 800 or higher film to
show the security staff as they apparently are allowed to hand search
parcels containing high speed films rather than requiring that they be
passes through the scanner.

Thanks.

Gerald Nicholls
gnicholl@dep.state.nj.us
609-633-7964
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