China has banned the use of full-body X-ray scanners at airports and railways stations due to radiation risks, following a ruling by the country's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP).

According to a document sent to the Department of Environmental Protection of Sichuan Province (DEPSP) on Monday and published on Wednesday, the MEP is urging the DEPSP to tighten laws and halt the production, sell, and use of full body X-ray scanners without permission to ensure public safety.

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The initiative followed after several travelers started complaining of the radiation hazards posed by these full-body security scanners in the airports and railways stations in Chengdu and other areas, China Daily reported.

Immediately after receiving the document, the DEPSP said on Wednesday that the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is suspected of violating the regulations by using these devices. The department has since ordered the airport to remove the X-ray scanners, and the issue has been investigated.

Currently, the airport had installed walk-through metal detectors on two of its entrances, and passengers will be subject to manual inspection while the machines are out, the Travel Media noted.

On the other hand, West China Metropolis Daily reported the full-body scanners at Chengdu East Railway Station are still operational.

The MEP discovered that although the radiation dose emitted from the scanner only has a small effect on the body, ionizing radiation devices should not be used to screen humans at a large scale according to Vanguard.

China not only has the world's biggest population but also a huge number of travelers, making the use of full body X-ray scanners at airports, railway stations, and ports inappropriate.

TagsChengdu, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Protection of Sichuan Province, radiation, radiation hazards, body scanners, X-ray scanners