Radiation negligible from subway X-ray machines: expert  

多地地鐵常態化安檢引儀器輻射擔憂 調查稱安全

目前，北京、上海等不少城市都實施地鐵常態化安檢。有人擔心X射線安檢儀的輻射對人體有害，稱“每天被輻射一次，人的命都要短一天。”記者了解到，在一些因拒絕安檢引起的糾紛中，有的乘客就稱是“怕不安全”。 [查看全文]

(ECNS) -- An environmental expert has said that radiation from X-ray security scanners in subways poses no threat to passengers, according to the People's Daily on Friday.

The announcement comes amid rumors that passing the scanners every day will shorten life expectancy.

A field test was carried out at two subway stations in Chengdu, Sichuan province, to determine the amount of radiation emitted by the X-ray machines.

Results of the test showed that the machines are safe, as radiation is too low to pose health risks.

If a passenger passes the machine every day for a year, he will receive a dose of radiation reaching 0.007 mSv, which is lower than the safety standard of 1 mSv per person a year, the test concluded.

It is safe because most X-rays are sealed within the machines, said Zhou Runmin, an official at the municipal environmental protection agency in Chengdu.

"The machine's protective curtains block X-rays from escaping," Zhou added.

The test found that radiation around a subway X-ray machine reached its highest level when its protective curtain was lifted.

Passengers' luggage, food and water are safe to eat and drink after being screened, said Xiao Xuefu, a researcher at the China Institute of Atomic Energy.