However, TSA (Transportation Safety Administration) claims that the backscatter machines that use low X rays are not dangerous and that they don’t represent any risk for pregnant women. One of these detectors raised health concerns as it uses low X rays, and the other one is less controversial though as it works on the principles of electromagnetic waves. Both of these types of detectors are used to detect objects that might be hidden under the clothes. There are two different types of metal detectors installed in US airports. These metal detector devices used for luggage scanning are completely safe for those who work with it as they are shielded from employees. From the other side, X-ray scan is used for luggage scan, and the radiation they emit has the same power as dental X-ray used in dentists offices. Even household appliances that we have in our homes produce some kind of electromagnetic field, so exposure of pregnant women to such sources of radiation, including wands that most of the security personnel use to scan passengers is considered safe.Ī lot of people assume that walk through metal detectors in airports use X ray to detect metals, but they don’t.

The truth is that metal detectors located on airports use a low-frequency electromagnetic field, and their main purpose is searching for weapons. Every pregnant woman gets worried with reason when she has to pass through metal detectors at any airport.Īccording to Health Physics Society, walk through metal detectors on airports give off non-ionizing radiation, therefore long term exposure to these will not increase any risk of birth defect as well as miscarriage. Traveling during pregnancy is not recommended, however in some situations it can be necessary.

Metal detectors for casino