Re: [Leica] Airport X-RAY report

[Jim Brick <jim@brick.org>]

Thanks Bill for bringing this up again. Six months ago, we had this very
discussion. The conclusion was that under no circumstances should you ever
put film in your checked-in luggage. I managed to get my film hand
inspected in SFO, London, and Amsterdam just last month. With a little
forethought, it can be done, although the carry-on x-ray machines don't
seem to bother film under ISO 1000. The BJP had a big article on the
checked-in luggage machines, last spring.

Jim


At 09:47 PM 10/23/98 -0700, you wrote:
>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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