Airport xrays ( was: reversal film advice)

[Tony <scope@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 04:19 PM 3/3/1999 -0800, you wrote:
>charles.tait@xxxxxxxxxxxx did comment on Re: reversal film advice:
>
>c|>You speak as if "Europe" was some far away and undeveloped land.  The
>c|>biggest hazard is the X-ray machine at Aberdeen (or XXX) airport. 
>
 we hope to get back for an extended visit in 2000.. bring 
>lots of film, cameras. etc.. Never had a problem with Glasgow, Manchester,
or 
>Heathrow airports..

I read an article in a (British?) photo mag some years ago where they put a
number of medium speed films through UK airport xray machines around a
dozen times and did not detect any fogging at all.  It was said that the
only problem would be with high speed films.  However, I believe the xray
'dose' from some old machines in other parts of the world definitely would
be a problem.  In Australia, in my limited experience, customs refuse to
hand inspect film so there is no choice but to let it go through the
machine.  I've always been curious about the lead-lined pouches some people
recommend for film. If the xray machine couldn't penetrate a package,
wouldn't this immediately raise suspicions about what was in it?

BTW, I think this topic is very relevant to the group as many people travel
through airports with exposed film.

Can anyone comment?

Tony Andrews