This appeared a week or so ago. Ken Waller > > From: Bob Shell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > With all that has been said about film safety and the US Mail as well as > > carrying film while traveling, I thought everyone should see this statement > > from Fuji Photofilm USA. > ************************> > >> > >> New Postal Service and Increased Airport Scanning Procedures Fog > >> Photographic Film > >> > >> In an effort to make the skies and United States mail safer after the tragic > >> events of September 11th, new and increased scanning procedures have been > >> put in place by both the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and the airline > >> industry. Unfortunately, these recent changes put photographic film at risk > >> of fogging and exposure. > >> In airports around the country, the use of baggage scanners to detect > >> explosive devices has been increased. Because of its silver content and > >> metal canisters, photographic film, especially large packages or bundles of > >> film, appears particularly suspect. Unfortunately, the scanners are fogging > >> undeveloped film left in checked baggage. Unlike the airport x-ray equipment > >> of the past, which had little or no effect on unprocessed film, the > >> International Imaging Industry Association, Inc. (I3A) has tested these > >> scanners at the request of the FAA and determined they have the potential to > >> fog both unprocessed color and black and white film. Processed film is > >> unaffected. > > This would seem fairly significant: > > >> As of October 27th, the USPS has begun purchasing electron beam scanning > >> equipment for use in sterilizing mail and eliminating any possible exposure > >> to anthrax. This electron beam technology will fully expose undeveloped film > >> as if it were exposed to sunlight. At this time, we do not have complete > >> information regarding the extent to which these scanners will be used or > >> when the USPS will begin using them. As we receive additional information, > >> we will update this document to remain current with these events. > > Note the phrase: "fully expose undeveloped film as if it were exposed to > sunlight." > > >> While we applaud the FAA, airline industry and USPS in their efforts to > >> ensure that checked baggage and mail are safe, we also realize that your > >> pictures are very important to you and want to do all we can to see that > >> your photographic memories are preserved. We offer the following suggestions > >> to help you avoid damage to your film from airline scanners. We do not > >> currently have information regarding any safeguards that may be taken to > >> protect film sent via the USPS. > >> > >> * Make sure there is no unprocessed film in your checked baggage. > >> > >> * Carry your undeveloped film with you as carry-on baggage and ask for hand > >> inspection whenever possible. Place film in a separate mesh or clear plastic > >> bag for easy identification by airport security. > >> * When carrying large amounts of unprocessed film, contact the airline prior > >> to your flight to arrange for a special baggage inspection. When possible, > >> send your film via a cargo carrier that will certify that the film will not > >> be x-rayed. The FAA and I3A are currently working on guidelines with respect > >> to this situation. > >> * At some airports, passengers may be randomly selected from the carry-on > >> baggage check line and their carry-on luggage scanned as checked baggage. > >> Please be aware that this scan will fog film. If you are asked to step into > >> another line, remove your film from your carry-on baggage. > >> > >> * In time, security measures at airports may increase, and stronger scanners > >> may be used to scan even carry-on baggage. Be aware of the signs in the > >> airport; most carry-on baggage scanners, at this time, will be marked as > >> "Film Safe" if they will not damage your film. > > ================================================================= > PHOTOWED is a feature of Photo News Network (PNN) � > http://www.photonews.net > and is sponsored by: > K O D A K P R O F E S S I O N A L > a division of Eastman Kodak Company > Visit the Kodak Professional web site at > http://www.kodak.com/go/professional > =================================================================
-- Thomas Van Veen Photography www.bigdayphoto.com 301-758-3085 ----- Original Message ----- From: Tonghang Zhou <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, November 16, 2001 2:05 PM Subject: Has anyone got film get X-rayed lately? > There was some talk about packages getting X-rayed or > whatever other scanning treatment during shipment after > this anthrax incident. > > So has anyone had such experience yet? What about > buying film by mail order or sending in chromes by > mailers? > > Tonghang. > - > This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, > go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to > visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org . - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
