Photographers have long
been wary that airport security xray
equipment would damage
their unprocessed film, despite
prominently-posted signs in
airports assuring them that their fears were groundless. But a new x-ray
device the Federal Aviation Administration has recently put into service in
sporadic U.S. locations is virtually guaranteed to ruin photographic film,
whether it's packed in checked baggage or in carry-on bags. The machines,
which have previously been used internationally but have only recently
been put into service in the U.S., are located in only a few cities domestically,
but for security reasons the FAA refuses to reveal where they are. To
be safe, be sure not to pack unprocessed film. Instead, carry film and pass it
around x-ray equipment. As an added precaution, invest in an inexpensive
lead-lined bag to guarantee your film isn't accidentally exposed.