Hellobee Boards

I travelled quite a bit while pregnant, and never opted out. As pp have stated, there is less radiation absorbed by your body than during a typical flight. I'm an aerospace engineer and also have degrees in physics and imaging science, and was not at all concerned about the particular kind of radiation used in the scanners. If it were more penetrating radiation (higher frequency), say x-rays or gamma rays, then sure. We're bombarded by electromagnetic radiation all day long, in the form of radio waves (tv and radio), light (including infra-red, visible, and ultra-violet) etc. So just because we are imaged with "radiation" doesn't necessarily mean it is excessively harmful. A suntan/burn is also harmful to your body, yet we don't close beaches.

Feel free to ignore my nerd rant.

@littlebug: Yes! I flew about three times pregnant and requested a pat down at all 6 security check ins.

I went through them! All my friends who work in medicine agree they're safe!