Radiation from full-body airport scanners may increase cancer risk

Melbourne, May 19 (ANI): Scientists in the U.S. have issued a warning that radiation from controversial full-body airport scanners could lead to an increased risk of skin cancer - particularly in kids.

David Agard, University of California biochemist, said that unlike other scanners, the radiation from these devices is delivered at low energy beam levels, with most of the dose concentrated in the skin and underlying tissue.

"While the dose would be safe if it were distributed throughout the volume of the entire body, the dose to the skin may be dangerously high," News.com.au quoted Agard as saying.

"Ionizing radiation such as the X-rays used in these scanners have the potential to induce chromosome damage, and that can lead to cancer," Agard added.

Another major concern is that a failure in the device - like a power or software glitch - can lead to an intense radiation dose to a single spot on the skin. (ANI)