# Baby Put Through L.A. Airport X-Ray Machine **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 20, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-put-through-l-a-airport-x-ray-machine/384965 "2006-12-20T20:28:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-put-through-l-a-airport-x-ray-machine/384965/41 "2006-12-22T20:04:37Z")
Good thing the baby’s name wasn’t on the **Do Not Fry** list. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-put-through-l-a-airport-x-ray-machine/384965/42 "2006-12-22T20:23:50Z")
[QUOTE=Rysdad] I wonder how much mAS and KVP those airport x-ray screeners produce? [Here is a chart](http://www.aafp.org/afp/990401ap/1813.html) that shows the recommended exposure limit (5 rad,total) for a fetus during the entire pregnancy. Unless those airport scanners kick out some hellacious levels or radiation (and they might. I dunno), her son is probably going to be fine. Just remember, there is NO absolutely safe level of ionizing radiation; it’s all about “acceptable risk.” [/QUOTE] From the article: > [@](#): > > Radiation doses > > The baby that went through the airport luggage machine was exposed to less radiation than a passenger on a cross-country flight. Typical radiation exposures\*: > > Luggage screener: 1 > > Cross-country flight: 5 > > Chest X-ray: 10 > > Mammogram: 30 > > * * * > > - Measured in millirems, which takes into account both the amount of exposure and the biological effect of the type of radiation in question. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2006, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-put-through-l-a-airport-x-ray-machine/384965/43 "2006-12-22T21:08:01Z")
OK, then. I didn’t read that part. And, since REM = Rad x Q factor, and the Q factor for x-ray is about one, then the little dude got a dose of about .001 Rad. Not to worry. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-put-through-l-a-airport-x-ray-machine/384965/44 "2006-12-23T01:31:32Z")
[QUOTE=Rysdad] OK, then. I didn’t read that part. And, since REM = Rad x Q factor, and the Q factor for x-ray is about one, then the little dude got a dose of about .001 Rad. Not to worry. [/QUOTE] Right, as I said, the bigger danger to the kid is the ride on the ramp at the end where he gets crushed by the backpack coming through after him. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2006, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-put-through-l-a-airport-x-ray-machine/384965/45 "2006-12-23T02:07:38Z")
[QUOTE=Rick] I thnk we now know why they explain the use of a seat belt on every frickin flight. [/QUOTE] [It’s the law](http://www.risingup.com/fars/info/part121-571-FAR.shtml): > [@](#): > > **Sec. 121.571 - Briefing passengers before takeoff.** > > (a) Each certificate holder operating a passenger-carrying airplane shall insure that all passengers are orally briefed by the appropriate crewmember as follows: > > \ > > (iii) The use of safety belts, including instructions on how to fasten and unfasten the safety belts… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baby-put-through-l-a-airport-x-ray-machine/384965.md?page=2)