# Do you care if an airport screener sees you buck naked? X-Ray specs are here and now! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651 "2003-06-26T23:33:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/1 "2003-06-26T23:33:14Z")
Pretty amazing stuff! [Transportation Security official Susan Hallowell, as seen through a “backscatter” machine which peels back the dark blazer and skirt she’s wearing.](http://msnbc.com/news/931595.asp?0cv=CB20) ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/2 "2003-06-27T00:01:36Z")
- - - MMMMMMM!!! SEXXXXXAAAYYYYYYYYY!!! ~ ---
**Author:** ![Rabid\_Squirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Rabid\_Squirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rabid_Squirrel)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/3 "2003-06-27T01:44:19Z")
Creepy isn’t it? No cite, but one suggestion I read was to use an image recongition program (not exactly an easy task) to detect weapons and take the human vouyism aspect out of the loop. ---
**Author:** ![Cosmopolitan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/94ad74/32.png) [@Cosmopolitan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cosmopolitan)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/4 "2003-06-27T02:27:41Z")
Interesting… To answer the OP’s question (I’m not sure whether it was facetious): Nope, I’m not too particular about who sees me naked. A lifetime of doctor visits’ll do that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/5 "2003-06-27T02:46:38Z")
Based on the article’s pics, not really. I suppose if the technology becomes commonplace, a greater number of people with mannequin-fetishes will go into airport-screener careers, but as long as they keep quiet about it, more power to 'em! ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/6 "2003-06-27T02:49:08Z")
Nope. As long as the screen is out of side of the general public then go nuts. It looks like crash test dummy porn or Marilyn Manson in his body suit. I feel for the screeners. For every Rose McGowan that walks though there are two Rosannes. :shudder: ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/7 "2003-06-27T03:09:09Z")
I’ve seen this story all over CNN tonight. The airport screener who gets to see my body will hopefully be smiling. (But, seriously, can’t they figure out a way to see less? Guess not. Oh well). ---
**Author:** ![plain\_jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@plain\_jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plain_jane)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/8 "2003-06-27T03:44:34Z")
The link isn’t working for me (slow, slow computer) but I wouldn’t care if women saw me naked. Not too keen on strange men seeing me nude (regardless of whether or not I strike their fancy.) ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/9 "2003-06-27T04:45:42Z")
That pic is quite revolting actually. But I couldn’t care less about who sees my naked. ---
**Author:** ![green\_bladder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@green\_bladder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/green_bladder)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/10 "2003-06-27T04:46:50Z")
err, “…who sees m **e** naked…” ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/11 "2003-06-27T05:02:17Z")
I’m more concerned about the radiation exposure. Anybody know the dosage from this device? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/12 "2003-06-27T05:07:13Z")
One could take a viagra beforehand and go through a female scanner’s line. Could she sue for sexual harrassment? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/13 "2003-06-27T05:12:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scr4 \* > \*\*I’m more concerned about the radiation exposure. Anybody know the dosage from this device? \*\* The system uses “backscatter” xray technology, which gives a dose roughly equal to standing in bright sun for the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Shana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Shana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shana)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/14 "2003-06-27T05:53:28Z")
Hmm, well the sun is said to cause skin cancer…So that was my main concern. I’m not sure I believe it’s safe. Especially if you’re a frequent air traveler. I wouldn’t mind a woman looking at the screen, but I guess that would mean they would have to pay two screeners - male and female…doesn’t seem likely they would do that. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/15 "2003-06-27T07:15:42Z")
I found detailed information about the device in [this PDF file](http://www.radjournal.com/articles/bodyscan.pdf): > [@](#): > > The operator receives less than 5 uSv/hr. at the cabinet surface, and since he is likely to be some distance away from the cabinet, the actual dosage received is less. The subject being inspected receives less than 0.05uSv per exposure. For some points of comparison, average naturally occurring background radiation is approximately 8 uSv/day; the average radiation dose seen in a chest X-ray is 30 - 100 uSv; and the dose obtained in a round trip cross country flight is 50 uSv. A person would have to be subjected to 1000 BodySearch scans to obtain the same doses as occur in a long airplane flight. This is very impressive technology. I’d agree with the manufacturer’s claim that its health effects are negligible, assuming that 0.05 uSv number is correct. Still, comparing the dosage to sunlight is meaningless and misleading. The system uses 60 keV X-rays which is enough to penetrate your body. The flux is much lower though, so the dosage is very small. (I’m not criticizing **gotpasswords** here, the comparison has been mentioned on many newspaper articles so it must have been in the manufacturer’s press release or something.) ---
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/16 "2003-06-27T07:46:36Z")
Personally, that image doesn’t do anything for me. It’s as graphic as showing a picture of your skeleton, and I can’t imagine anyone getting a kick off of a picutre like that. So, no I wouldn’t be bothered at all. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/17 "2003-06-27T08:04:38Z")
I’ll chip in with the “wouldn’t care” crowd. The picture isn’t exactly a Playboy spread, if you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/18 "2003-06-27T08:16:06Z")
I guess my response is cool. I’d like a picture of myself. Here’s more [pics](http://www.as-e.com/technology/image_1.html#). The immigrants look like aliens. freaky. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/19 "2003-06-27T08:24:31Z")
I wish they had a similar image of a man so we could compare the level of, um, explicitness. (Upon preview, I see **Fern Forest** ’s link answers my question somewhat.) I second **Duckster** ’s suggestion. It would be hilarious doing it every time, and then when it all goes into a big file somewhere, some poor schmuck will be thinking, “Well, this Mr. Duckster is quite an _excitable_ individual…” ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651/20 "2003-06-27T10:37:43Z")
Perhaps the machines should be operated by eunuchs. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-care-if-an-airport-screener-sees-you-buck-naked-x-ray-specs-are-here-and-now/184651.md?page=2)