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There is some evidence that extremely low radiation do not increase your cancer risk. However, if you realize that a pilot already receives increased radiation by flying several hours a day and could average 2+ of these scanning’s a day for 30+ years you are probably adding a significant risk (compared to getting a pat down).

As to passenger safety the annual dosage delivered in a short period of time is not safe. So take someone with say, a bad sun burn or a recent CAT scan and walking though those things is probably a bad idea.

Also due to poor training / incompetence some people are going to be sent through these things several times and or be required to stand there while someone get's distracted.

PS: The corresponding annual effective dose... and 500 mrem for the more exposed routes. (Bottollier-Depois JF et al. Assessing exposure to cosmic radiation during long-haul flights. Radiat Res 153(5 Pt. 1):526-32; 2000.)




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