[Leica] Airport X-RAY report

[Bill Erfurth <m6rf@yahoo.com>]

Hi Gang,

The following is from the AGFA web site,  I think you will find it
interesting.  If you don't read anything else, read the TEST RESULTS.

If you wish to comment on this go to the AGFA Photo web site at
http://www.agfaphoto.com

- - - -
     Damage to films by ANTI-TERROR luggage checks at airports
      

     In the USA a new type of X-ray scanner has been developed, which
can detect
     hidden explosives better than in the past. It is incorporated in
a luggage checking
     system which functions in a similar way to a computer tomograph. 

     The cases are first pre-checked at a normal radiation level. A
software program
     carries out an analysis, and warns if it suspects the presence of
weapons or explosive. 

     Then comes a second inspection, this time with a thinner but much
more powerful
     X-ray. This checks only the suspicious items in the case. 

     Since there is a specially high risk of films being damaged, the
film industry has reacted
     very early and formed a joint examination team. This team has
carried extensive tests
     and evaluated the results. 

     All the reputable film manufacturers put together a test package
of their main types of
     film, from 100 ASA to 1000 ASA, and in the 35 mm, APS and 120
rollfilm versions. 

     The test films (some exposed and some unexposed) were passed
through the luggage
     scanner for up to fifty times, and their positions on the
conveyor belt were also varied. 

     The test results 

     The new luggage checker damages every film from 100 ASA onwards.
They are
     fogged, and images of objects, for instance keys in the beam in
front of the film,
     appear on the film. 

     Films which have already been exposed (but not yet developed) may
suffer less
     damage, depending on the type of subject exposed on to them. 

     Recommendation 

     If your trip takes you through airports with the new luggage
checkers, you should
     definitely put your films in your hand luggage. This is exposed
to the X-rays either not
     all or only moderately. 

     Films in surrendered luggage will be fogged or spoilt by images
of other items you have
     packed. 

     Examples of airports which are already using the new systems are: 

     New York (John F. Kennedy), Miami, London, Amsterdam.


 

 
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