# Unprocessed film and X-rays?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unprocessed-film-and-x-rays/163657>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 24, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unprocessed-film-and-x-rays/163657 "2003-03-24T00:53:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@Tblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tblue)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unprocessed-film-and-x-rays/163657/1 "2003-03-24T00:53:45Z")

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Hi - am looking to travel overseas later this year.  
I have been told that the x-ray scanning process at airports will destroy the quality of my unprocessed film - I was planning on taking plenty with me as it is cheaper to buy it where I am before I go. But now I don’t know if it’s worth it.

I don’t want to waste my money, and take pictures that won’t be worth developing on my return. (I didn’t really want to take developed prints with me everywhere - the aim was to do a lot of photography and have them developed at my leisure when I get home.)

Can someone confirm/deny for me that the airport security scanners will/won’t ruin my film (I know film is infra-red sensitive at the very least.)

P.S. - asking some places not to scan the film doesn’t seem to be an option. This, from the friend who told me about it in the first place.

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**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unprocessed-film-and-x-rays/163657/2 "2003-03-24T01:02:04Z")

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This site–

[http://photos.msn.com/resources/targeted/en-us/editorial/HowNewFAARulesAffectTraveling.html](http://photos.msn.com/resources/targeted/en-us/editorial/HowNewFAARulesAffectTraveling.html)

Tells All.

I work in a photo lab. The advice is good.

Hand carry it through Security.

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**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unprocessed-film-and-x-rays/163657/3 "2003-03-24T01:31:30Z")

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[The TSA](http://www.tsa.dot.gov/public/display?theme=56) regulations are worth printing out and carrying to the airport, too.

The OP mentions travelling overseas, in which case the chances of being able to have your carry-on hand-inspected may be dicey at best.

I’m going to Hawaii at the end of April; I’ve decided to forego the hassles and FedEx my film to the hotel.