Interesting Airport Body Scanner experience

[Cujet]

I travel on a regular basis. Sometimes as often 4 to 6 times per month, on the airlines. And, many more times on my personal aircraft and corporate aircraft.

Outbound in West Palm Beach, FL, I stepped through the L3 ProVision "mm wave" full body scanner. With my hands up, as required. As the machine performed it's scan, I felt a strong tingle in my left thumb and a weaker tingle in my left forefinger. First time I've ever felt that. It happened only while the scanner was in motion. And stopped when the scanner stopped. Felt exactly like a fresh 9V battery on my tongue!

They pulled me out of line and asked to see my left wrist. Since it was Florida, I was wearing a short sleeve shirt and clearly had nothing on my wrist.

However, in 2008 I crashed my bicycle and badly broke my left arm and wrist into many pieces. It required a custom made "internal fixation" (stainless steel plate and screws) to repair it, as it was very badly damaged into about 21 or 22 distinct fragments. The repair was very successful and has been 100% trouble free.

I'm starting to think that the mm wave machine is a high powered antenna and it induced a current into my steel parts. The conformation was the interest in my bare left arm.

 

[JC1]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
I travel on a regular basis. Sometimes as often 4 to 6 times per month, on the airlines. And, many more times on my personal aircraft and corporate aircraft.

Outbound in West Palm Beach, FL, I stepped through the L3 ProVision "mm wave" full body scanner. With my hands up, as required. As the machine performed it's scan, I felt a strong tingle in my left thumb and a weaker tingle in my left forefinger. First time I've ever felt that. It happened only while the scanner was in motion. And stopped when the scanner stopped. Felt exactly like a fresh 9V battery on my tongue!

They pulled me out of line and asked to see my left wrist. Since it was Florida, I was wearing a short sleeve shirt and clearly had nothing on my wrist.

However, in 2008 I crashed my bicycle and badly broke my left arm and wrist into many pieces. It required a custom made "internal fixation" (stainless steel plate and screws) to repair it, as it was very badly damaged into about 21 or 22 distinct fragments. The repair was very successful and has been 100% trouble free.

I'm starting to think that the mm wave machine is a high powered antenna and it induced a current into my steel parts. The conformation was the interest in my bare left arm.


Doesn't sound like it's healthy to be scanned by that machine. Are those machines using radiation when scanning?

Regards, JC.

 

[john_pifer]

RF at a high enough power level could induce a current into a conductor, but I doubt those scanners are transmitting anywhere near that level.

 

[john_pifer]

Originally Posted By: JC1
Are those machines using radiation when scanning?

Regards, JC.


It's not ionizing radiation. Doesn't cause cell damage like high-energy ionizing radiation.

 

[eljefino]

That ain't right, dude. I'd pursue this somehow. Maybe the machine is out of whack.

 

[cmorr]

The sensation sounds like the machine was using magnetic resonance like an MRI. I know if you have any metal (even a small sliver like an old eye injury) they will warn you or even deny performing the test

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: john_pifer
Originally Posted By: JC1
Are those machines using radiation when scanning?

Regards, JC.


It's not ionizing radiation. Doesn't cause cell damage like high-energy ionizing radiation.


That we know of as yet...

The tingling and the interest are an interesting coincidence.

 

[04SE]

Another reason I refuse to fly and why I drive EVERYWHERE.

 

[JHZR2]

Lots of folks have defended it. I travel a lot, and deny it every time. Wish more people did.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2435591

 

[Shannow]

When leaving SF a few years ago, I asked if I could go for a pat down and was told no...although the pat-down my sister had not long after in LA, she thought she needed a cigarette afterwards

 

[dernp]

I have a titanium T plate with numerous screws in my right wrist after a crash. I have been screened many times and have yet to notice any tingling. Perhaps that machine was different than the ones I have been through.

 

[gfh77665]

Originally Posted By: john_pifer

It's not ionizing radiation. Doesn't cause cell damage like high-energy ionizing radiation.


It IS ionizing radiation. Not much at all, but it is indeed.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/06/130627151642.htm

 

[02SE]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Lots of folks have defended it. I travel a lot, and deny it every time. Wish more people did.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2435591


I'm also a frequent flyer. I may go through a TSA checkpoint up to six times a week.

I don't care for being groped, but I'll take it over the long-term cumulative affects of being irradiated numerous times a week.

It's to the point that some TSA agents in a few Airports know me by name.

I guess I should be grateful that none have asked what I'm doing later..

 

[Cujet]

The L3 is not a an x-ray backscatter machine, as far as I know. I believe it is a mm wave radio frequency machine. I don't believe it uses any ionizing radiation.

I think the TSA has removed all of the backscatter machines. I don't see them anywhere anymore.

As I mentioned, this is the first and only time I've ever experienced that sensation. I've been through those machines many, many times.

In a week or two, I'll go through again. If I can choose the same machine, I will.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: 04SE
Another reason I refuse to fly and why I drive EVERYWHERE.


That! If i cannot drive somewhere, I do not need to be there! I'll have myself shilled truck freight before I will fly.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: cmorr
The sensation sounds like the machine was using magnetic resonance like an MRI. I know if you have any metal (even a small sliver like an old eye injury) they will warn you or even deny performing the test


I've had an MRI and there's a huge amount of energy expended... I felt the slightest warming. If OP is feeling something in a "non-medical" device used weekly by frequent fliers and operated by whomever... that should be cause for concern.

 

[Astro14]

Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Originally Posted By: 04SE
Another reason I refuse to fly and why I drive EVERYWHERE.


That! If i cannot drive somewhere, I do not need to be there! I'll have myself shilled truck freight before I will fly.


So...we can rule out that trip to Hawaii, then...as well as all of Asia, Europe, Africa, etc...you know, there are some worthwhile places to visit for which flying is the only option...

 

[OVERKILL]

http://www.sds.l-3com.com/advancedimaging/provision.htm

Quote:

Safe Technology
ProVision does not use X-rays or any ionizing radiation
The signals created by ProVision are much less than other commercial radio frequency devices


Quote:
the ProVision quickly screens subjects using safe active millimeter wave (MMW) radio frequency technology to detect concealed objects made of a broad variety of materials — both metallic and non-metallic.

 

[Cujet]

It's entirely possible the machine malfunctioned, output too much power, or has some sort of different calibration than I've been exposed to before. If it happens again, I'll go for the "pat down" instead. No need to subject myself to unknown risks.

Does anybody here know if the nerves or other form of conductor have thumb and forefinger commonality? If so, that may further confirm the issue.

In the past, I refused to go through the x-ray machines and would opt for the pat down. But, believing the L3 machines are safe, akin to an enhanced metal detector, I go through those without reservations. Still, I'm very curious, so I will try again, just to see. It's my bit of semi-scientific testing.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
Originally Posted By: Jarlaxle
Originally Posted By: 04SE
Another reason I refuse to fly and why I drive EVERYWHERE.


That! If I cannot drive somewhere, I do not need to be there! I'll have myself shipped truck freight before I will fly.


So...we can rule out that trip to Hawaii, then...as well as all of Asia, Europe, Africa, etc...you know, there are some worthwhile places to visit for which flying is the only option...


You may enjoy being crammed into a seat ergonomically designed for an undernourished 12-year-old (often between two 350lb porkers with strict cultural taboos against bathing), a few feet from a shrieking infant for 12 hours, all this after being either blasted with an unknown amount of unknown radiation and/or groped and fondled, and having your luggage ransacked and anything valuable in it stolen. I'll pass. Again: if I cannot drive somewhere, I do not need to be there. It really is that simple.

Note: I have absolutely zero interest in ever visiting Hawaii.