X-ray damage

X-ray damage to film stock

In these days of heightened security measures it is becoming increasingly problematic to send or travel with unprocessed film stock. Increasingly sophisticated explosive detection systems are being deployed at airports around the world. The latest detection systems employ x ray and cat scan technology which can fog film.

The systems evaluate baggage using a pre-scan. If suspicious materials are detected a second focused and more intense scan is made. These high-intensity x-ray machines will fog and ruin all unprocessed film of any speed, whether exposed or not.

Metal film containers are sufficient to trigger a high intensity scan. Precautions such as wrapping unprocessed film in lead-lined containers also trigger the higher radiation scan.

At present these high intensity scanners are mostly being deployed to evaluate checked luggage, but it won't be long before they are also used to check carry-on luggage. Express air package shipping services do not normally employ x-ray scanning. However, the same carriers may use passenger airlines for certain routes and parcels on these airlines may well be scanned.