Lead lined bags

alan davus

alan davus

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Heading off overseas just before Christmas for 4 weeks and with a total of 8 flights all up, I put all my film in an Optech lead bag just to be on the safe side. This of course was xrayed at least 8 times by the carry on luggage scanning machines. I expected the attendants to harrass me about what was inside each time but was never asked once. Do the xray machines see through the lead bags with out affecting the film or how does it work?? Cheers, Alan
 
I have had the same experience. The numerous times I have flown with lead bags guaranteed to protect up to 1600 ISO film, I have never been asked to open one. In fact, the last trip = LAX to Auckland, New Zealand, they wanted to open my bag (which is very rare for me). I offered the lead bag, but the inspector said no problem, the machine spotted something else. I was quickly cleared. I've never had any fogging problems and since the new machines say safe for up to 800 ISO and I generally take 400, I'm considering cutting back on the bags.

Dave
 
alan davus said:
Heading off overseas just before Christmas for 4 weeks and with a total of 8 flights all up, I put all my film in an Optech lead bag just to be on the safe side. This of course was xrayed at least 8 times by the carry on luggage scanning machines. I expected the attendants to harrass me about what was inside each time but was never asked once. Do the xray machines see through the lead bags with out affecting the film or how does it work?? Cheers, Alan
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The x-ray machines may or may not be able to penetrate your lead-lined bag. According to the TSA, it should have showed up on their screens as something needing to be checked - clearly that did not happen in your case.

The x-ray machines are designed to x-ray. If they can see through your lead-lined bag, then your lead-lined bag is not doing it's job, which is to stop x-rays from going through. If the x-ray machine cannot see through your bag, it is supposed to show up as an impenetrable object needing further examination.

I would suggest that you were lucky.

The TSA recommends against using lead-lined bags:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1035.shtm

We recommend that you do not place your film in lead-lined bags since the lead bag will have to be hand-inspected.

You may still consider bringing a lead-lined bag if you are traveling through airports in other countries as their policies may vary. Check with your airline or travel agent for more information on foreign airports.
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Of course, bmattock, you are correct. If the machine can see through the lead bag, the bag is not protecting the film from x-ray. If it cannot, the bag should be inspected. But all I can say is that protected or seen, I have never been asked to open a bag. That would make me consistently "lucky." I dunno, but could a bag reduce the effect of x-ray so that while the film is "seen," the dosage is much less and the film still protected?

Dave
 
bmattock said:
The x-ray machines may or may not be able to penetrate your lead-lined bag. According to the TSA, it should have showed up on their screens as something needing to be checked - clearly that did not happen in your case.

The x-ray machines are designed to x-ray. If they can see through your lead-lined bag, then your lead-lined bag is not doing it's job, which is to stop x-rays from going through. If the x-ray machine cannot see through your bag, it is supposed to show up as an impenetrable object needing further examination.

I would suggest that you were lucky.

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Bill, this was my exact thought at the time. If so this is really an easy breach of security. So much for having to remove your shoes, any metal objects from your person etc. when all you have to do is fill a lead bag with plastic explosives and walk on the plane.
 
Last few times I tried, they had to stop the line, pull out my film bag and rerun the whole thing. Took a lot of time, and made a lot of people behind me angry.

I've started putting all my film (out of canisters) in big ziplocks, and handing them over for hand inspection at the get go. Seems to save time. If they won't hand inspect (which hasn't been the case yet), at least I'm not holding up the security line further.
 
Stanton said:
Of course, bmattock, you are correct. If the machine can see through the lead bag, the bag is not protecting the film from x-ray. If it cannot, the bag should be inspected. But all I can say is that protected or seen, I have never been asked to open a bag. That would make me consistently "lucky." I dunno, but could a bag reduce the effect of x-ray so that while the film is "seen," the dosage is much less and the film still protected?

Dave
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Dave, I would tend to believe that the lead-lined bag would indeed cut the amount of radiation getting through, even if the security x-ray could 'see through' the bag. Anything dense like lead is going to block some radiation.

I do not doubt your experience with the TSA and lead-lined bags. I cannot say if you are 'lucky' a lot or if the TSA is simply incompetent - one must draw their own conclusion.

I will say that we have had this discussion many, many, times before on RFF. The TSA recommends against it, I posted the link. Others have their own opinion, I won't argue. I tend to follow the rules when I can see no good reason not to. I only get disobedient on a civil way when it involves something a bit more worthy, like my liberties. Lead-lined bags, eh, I'm happy to follow their rules (or suggestions, as the case may be).

Besides, I try not to fly anymore. My opinion of the TSA is that they are federally-licensed crooks and thugs. But their x-rays don't worry me.
 
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