An X-ray machine which produces 'naked' images of passengers was introduced at an airport today, enabling staff to instantly spot any hidden weapons or explosives.
The full body scanner, being trialled at Manchester Airport, will also show up any breast enlargements, false limbs, piercings, and a clear outline of passengers' private parts.
However fears have been raised that the Rapiscan Secure 1000, which resembles a large filing cabinet, may not be safe for women in the early stages of pregnancy or children.
Other travellers might not want to be scanned because of the graphic nature of the images, bosses admit.
Passengers can refuse to undergo the virtual strip search at Terminal 2, opting for the traditional 'pat down' search instead.
However airport chiefs say the black and white image will only be seen by a single officer in a remote location before it is deleted.
The machine works by beaming electromagnetic waves on to passengers while they stand in a booth, creating a virtual three-dimensional 'naked' image
TheX-Rays penetrate one-tenth of an inch into the body, enough to detect any devices or drugs hidden just under the skin.
Dr Sarah Burnett, who works as an independent radiologist in London, raised concerns about the safety of the device two years ago, when she was asked to undergo a full body scan at Luton Airport.
She said: 'It is illegal to expose people to any level of radiation without medical justification. So how is it that the Government is allowed to irradiate us willy-nilly at airports?
'I am particularly concerned about the potential effects on women in their first trimester of pregnancy.
'That is when the risks of the baby developing genetic abnormalities are highest because radiation exposure can damage the body's reproductive DNA.'
'The machines are referred to as 'low-dose', but there is a school of thought that there is no 'safe' radiation dose," said Dr Burnett, who has had 15 years' experience working in the NHS.
"It is true that passengers are exposed to 'cosmic' radiation within the aircraft, but there's nothing they can do about that - it can't be avoided. We can, however, avoid deliberately exposing people to radiation.'
Sarah Barrett, head of customer experience at Manchester Airport, played down the fears, claiming that even frequent fliers did not need to worry about radiation from the low-level x-ray
She said a dental X-ray transmits 20,000 times more radiation and that the Rapiscan would make the check-in process much quicker for passengers, who will not have to remove their coats, shoes or belts.
'Passengers can go through this machine 5,000 times a year each without worrying, it is super safe and the amount of radiation transmitted is tiny,' Ms Barrett said.
'Most of our customers do not like the traditional "pat down" search, they find it too intrusive, but they still want to be kept safe,' she explained.
 

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