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20 November 2009

Answer to Question #1499 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Pregnancy and Radiation — Power lines, magnets, computers, airport screening, cell phones

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

My wife is pregnant and we are traveling for the holidays. I saw your answer to the pregnant woman about her concerns about the security radiation. You say it is harmless. My questions: What kind of radiation is it? How do those walk-through devices work?

There are two screening devices at the airport. One is an x ray machine that looks at your luggage. That machine is well shielded and exposes no one to any significant exposure to x rays—neither the workers or the passengers. The other apparatus is a metal-detecting device that is nonionizing electromagnetic "radiation." That exposure has no reproductive effects that should concern your wife. There are no measurable effects from this exposure to the embryo. Of course I cannot remove the background risk of 15% miscarriage and 3% birth defects that all normal pregnant women face. Robert L. Brent, MD, PhD

Answer posted on 14 January 2002. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.