The sight of security screening equipment at airports and public venues often generates concern for parents traveling with infants. Metal detectors identify metallic objects by using low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF). This information clarifies the safety of these screening methods for the youngest population based on current scientific understanding.
Understanding Electromagnetic Fields
Metal detectors create and monitor an electromagnetic field to detect disturbances caused by conductive materials. These devices use non-ionizing, extremely low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields. The energy produced is similar to the fields generated by common household appliances, such as refrigerators and hair dryers.
The fields generated by metal detectors are fundamentally different from ionizing radiation, such as the X-rays used in medical imaging or baggage screening. Ionizing radiation carries enough energy to damage DNA, while non-ionizing fields do not possess this capability. Metal detector fields are highly localized, and exposure is limited to a brief moment.
Safety of Walk-Through Metal Detectors
Walk-through metal detectors (WTMDs), commonly known as archways, emit fields well below established international safety guidelines. Organizations like the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) set standards that these security devices must meet. The electromagnetic exposure from walking through an archway is minimal and transient.
Exposure duration is typically only a few seconds as the person passes through the portal. The low intensity of the field and the short exposure time contribute to the safety profile for all individuals. Official health bodies consider these walk-through devices safe for the general population, including infants, children, and pregnant individuals. The consensus is that the exposure levels pose no known health risk.
Safety of Handheld Screening Wands
Handheld metal detectors (HHMDs) are often used in close proximity to the body. However, the magnetic field produced by these wands is typically weaker and more focused than the field generated by archway detectors. The wands are designed for a quick, localized scan.
Exposure to the infant’s body from a handheld wand is highly localized and lasts for a very short period. Scientific testing confirms that the magnetic fields from HHMDs fall within established international safety limits. The scientific consensus indicates that the brief, low-level exposure from a handheld wand does not pose an increased risk to infants.
Differentiating Security Scanners
It is important to distinguish metal detectors from other types of security screening equipment. The safety conclusions for metal detectors, which use non-ionizing EMF, do not apply to all security technologies. Baggage X-ray scanners, for example, utilize ionizing radiation to examine luggage contents based on density differences.
Security protocols ensure that individuals are never directed to pass through the high-powered X-ray machines used for carry-on or checked baggage. Full-body scanners use millimeter-wave technology. These scanners operate using non-ionizing radiofrequency (RF) energy, which is considered safe and distinct from both metal detectors and X-ray radiation. Understanding the difference in how these devices operate clarifies the safety profile of each screening method.