BADGE BEWARE: 3-D CT Scanners at an Airport Near You
A new feature at airports nationwide is making the security checkpoint look more like a medical imaging room. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been deploying new three dimensional (3-D) Computed Tomography (CT) scanners—300 of them since last year—to better screen passenger baggage.
The new 3-D CT scanning equipment is now operational in airports across the nation where it is enhancing threat detection capabilities for carry-on baggage by automating the detection of explosives, firearms, knives, lithium ion batteries, liquids, and other prohibited items.
By creating 3-D images of the contents inside of a passenger’s baggage, TSA agents can more effectively view and rotate images 360 degrees for a thorough analysis. To many passengers’ delight, in airports with the new 3-D CT scanners, they can leave laptops and other electronics inside their bags during checkpoint screenings—helping to speed the process.
Faster, more thorough security screenings at airports…big WIN!
Does it pose a problem for dosimiter badges?
Your unprocessed film isn’t the only thing in danger.
If you work in and around medical imaging equipment and wear a personal radiation dosimeter badge to monitor the amount of radiation you are exposed to during imaging exams and procedures, then you know that putting your dosimetry badge through the CT scanner will register an alarmingly high dose. Aside from receiving a high dose alert or email, you will be required to take steps to remove the high dose recorded in your legal dose-of-record.
So, next time you take a flight—be BADGE AWARE—and remove it from your baggage so that it doesn’t get unintentionally dosed! If you cannot remove it, be sure to inform your Badge Administrator or Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) to correct your legal dose-of-record. They will need to contact your dosimetry service provider and certify that the dose resulted from air travel in order to update your occupational dose exposure records.
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