X-ray proof underwear has been invented to protect passengers’ modesty when they go through airport ‘naked scanners’.
T-shirt printer Steve Bradshaw claims his pants and vests for men and women are covered with a special paint made from a mixture of metals and glass.
He says the coating will mask body parts but still allow operators to see dangerous objects such as guns, knives and explosives, the Manchester Evening News reported.
Bradshaw acted after he missed a flight when he refused to enter a scanner at Manchester airport. He told security staff the technology was ‘invasive’ and breached privacy.
Passengers are randomly selected to go through the X-ray scanners at several UK airports. Under government rules, anyone who refuses is turned away.
“The machines operate at different wavelengths and the pants contain materials which react to radiation at different wavelengths,” Bradshaw told the newspaper.
“The paint contains barium sulphate, aluminium, ground glass and other materials. I have been 35 years in screen printing and I know about inks and what they are made from.
“I ended up making a coating which is a printable plastic ink. It reflects back and scatters the x-rays and is printed in a pattern. Small cut-outs in the design allow a large metal object or gun to show up the operator’s screen.
“I believe it is a compromise because it diffuses the image, allowing dangerous items to be seen without showing graphic detail.” He has yet to test his pants with a scanner but has written to the Department for Transport to seek approval.
Manchester airport, which has been using the X-ray technology in all its terminals since October, said surveys had shown broad support although a “small number” of passengers had refused to use the machines.