Scanning Food via X-ray Machines

[Hillogs]

Each day any bags I am taking into work are passed through a Rapiscan x-ray machine to
ensure that for reasons of safety we do not take any metal objects in with us. Many of us take our lunch into work with, and of course this goes through the machine as well. We are not allowed to remove the food from our bags, it has to be scanned. Concerns have been raised about the effect of eating food that has been x-rayed, but we have been assured that it is safe. I suspect that it may safe if done occasionally but have doubts as to how safe it is to eat 5 times a week. I have tried without success to find any information either from the Rapiscan site or elsewhere on the internet. Can anyone help please.

[heathfield]

I'm surprised that in your internet search you didn't come up with the answer to this very question. It's here

[Bazile]

What about frequent exposure of the body to x-rays - I assume that is dangerous - yes ?

I have noticed that when you have an xray at the hospital , the techicians always retreat behind a screen , when the machine is activated

[brachiopod]

Frequent exposure to X-rays will damage your living cells, which is why radiography staff retreat behind shielded areas, as the cumulative effects of exposure could be harmful when one is exposed to X-rays day in, day out.

However, it is important to understand that X-rays do not "impart radioactivity" to objects in contact with them, but are the result of radioactive decay within an emitting source.

So, although X-rays could cause damage to the cells of a plant or animal, the lettuce and ham in your sandwich is effectively dead, and in no way can it "impart radiactivity" to you. Even if the cells of your lettuce or ham were somehow damaged by this brief exposure to X-rays, they will just be digested by your body just like any other food you ingest.

THEY ARE NOT RADIOACTIVE IN THEIR OWN RIGHT.

As an analogy - think of UV rays from the sun. These too are electromagnetic waves - and long-term exposure to these can harm your skin cells, causing melanoma cancers. Yet eating something exposed to UV rays can NOT give you cancer solely because of this exposure.

[nightmare]

brachiopod
you give a rather interesting explanation of the origin of X rays.

[Buenchico]

Brachiopod has provided an excellent answer to your question. There can be no health risks from eating food which has been X-rayed.

X-rays (like the UV rays referred to above) are simply a type of electromagnetic radiation. Most people routinely bombard their food with massive amounts of electromagnetic radiation without ever worrying about any (non-existent) ill effects. How do they do it? In a microwave oven of course ;-)

If you're happy to eat microwaved food, it would be illogical to have concerns about X-rayed food.

Chris

[Hillogs]

Thank you both, I feel a lot happier now the principle has been explained to me. It's just that I no longer trust government departments when they tell me something is safe to eat - remember BSE! Cheers Greenhils

[taperface]

Chris - Microwaves send out non-ionizing radiation, so are deemed safe. X-ray machines are different, but food under plastic is also alright. I don't think people need to worry about any contamination from them. You have more to worry about where smoke detectors are concerned. If they are poked, accidentally or otherwise, the action can cause americium 241 to escape, and although it's in a sealed unit in a small dose, it is, never-the-less, radioactive.

[buildersmate]

'Food under plastic is alright' - nonsense, it makes no difference whether the food is under plastic or not. Read Brachiopod's explanation.

[taperface]

Each to their own, buildersmate.