Bai and Lu review electromagnetic exposure from security gates in the open-access journal Frontiers in Public Health, covering four technologies: walk-through metal detectors, electronic article surveillance systems used for theft prevention, radio-frequency identification systems, and millimetre-wave screening systems.
The review traces how these technologies developed, summarises their operating principles and emission characteristics, and examines potential biological effects of the fields they produce. It applies an adapted evidence-appraisal framework to experimental, numerical and epidemiological evidence, assesses how the fields interact with active medical devices and passive metallic implants, and gives particular attention to potentially susceptible populations and frequency-specific exposure metrics. The authors identify major evidence gaps and research priorities.
Quotes
"These technologies are widely used in public-security screening, theft prevention, access control, and industrial inspection, making electromagnetic-exposure safety a public-health concern."
"It also reviews exposure-assessment methods and applies an adapted evidence-appraisal framework to synthesize experimental, numerical, and epidemiological evidence, evaluate interactions with active medical devices and passive metallic implants, and assess evidence strength and limitations."
"Particular attention is given to potentially susceptible populations and frequency-specific exposure metrics."
"Major evidence gaps and future research priorities are identified."
Electromagnetic exposure safety assessment of electromagnetic security gates: a review.
Bai W, Lu M (2026) Frontiers in Public Health Journal Level 1â
