Ionizing radiation, like x-rays, affect the dividing cells of your body: bone marrow (not to be confused with actual bone cells called osteocytes), GI tract, etc. Although your bone is currently dividing to repair its self in your arm, osteocytes are particularly resistant to radiation. That coupled with the fact that you have a cast over your arm, and the x-rays they use (I imagine) are no where near as powerful as medical x-rays, you really have nothing to worry about.
Also, on a side note x-rays pass through things. Therefore, there would be no such xray that only went through the cast and not your entire arm. How else would the photo paper/detector on the other end of the x-ray beam actually see anything? I understand your worries, but really you have nothing to worry about. I think you always have the option for a visual/physical inspection (like you do with film rolls or anything else you don't want xrayed). I think I'd go with the xray, the last thing I'd want is someone poking and picking at my cast, that I believe would be more dangerous than the x-rays.
Originally Posted by
wannagotoo
Unfortunately I have a broken arm. The two times I flew out of LAX (not OGG, LAS, SNA, etc) they had to x-ray the cast. They take 4 "pictures" to view all sides of the cast. The x-ray is strong enough to see the bones. I asked the TSA agent why only LAX, she said that any airport that has the machine has to use it. I asked her how safe it was, she said it can only x-ray the cast. When I showed her the bones in the x-ray, she just smiled. How can I find out if this is dangerous and if I have the right to ask for a swab (as in the other airports) instead of the x-ray? I know this isn't a common question but when you never know when you too could trip over luggage on a German train and break your arm. Thanks for any information.