I have a question: recently I took a flight from BRU to Tul, connecting in ATL. Before going to the domestic zone of the airport I had to go through security again. Took off jacket, shoes, laptop out of the bag, etc. none of that was a big surpise, but then the security guy told me to put the little bottle of water I had in my hand through the Xray.

Now this was just the clear plastic bottle of water that they hand out during the flight....

Why? What could I possibly have been hiding in there??

I know better than arguing with these people, I have read enough stories, but this seems way over the top.

Bottles of water, soda, Gatorade, etc., as well as baby bottles and sippy cups go through the x-ray. Coffee goes through as well if it's in a personal cup. (If it's in a cheap paper or syrofoam cup it can be carried through.)

Rule of thumb is that everything must go through the x-ray machine. General exceptions are:
There are other exceptions, but those are quite specific and the small minority that it affects knows what those exceptions are.

The TSA has had reports that water may contain hydrogen, which, as you know is an explosive substance. They are not sure whether the metal detector will detect hydrogen in water, but, you know, better safe than sorry.

I think the TSA should be on the lookout for people carrying Dihydrogen Monoxide instead. It's easily obtainable and terrorists could use it to kill people on planes, trains, and automobiles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO)

What is Dihydrogen Monoxide?
Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid. Its basis is the unstable radical Hydroxide, the components of which are found in a number of caustic, explosive and poisonous compounds such as Sulfuric Acid, Nitroglycerine and Ethyl Alcohol.

For more detailed information, including precautions, disposal procedures and storage requirements, refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Dihydrogen Monoxide.

Should I be concerned about Dihydrogen Monoxide?
Yes, you should be concerned about DHMO! Although the U.S. Government and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) do not classify Dihydrogen Monoxide as a toxic or carcinogenic substance (as it does with better known chemicals such as hydrochloric acid and saccharine), DHMO is a constituent of many known toxic substances, diseases and disease-causing agents, environmental hazards and can even be lethal to humans in quantities as small as a thimbleful.

Research conducted by award-winning U.S. scientist Nathan Zohner concluded that roughly 86 percent of the population supports a ban on dihydrogen monoxide. Although his results are preliminary, Zohner believes people need to pay closer attention to the information presented to them regarding Dihydrogen Monoxide. He adds that if more people knew the truth about DHMO then studies like the one he conducted would not be necessary.

A similar study conducted by U.S. researchers Patrick K. McCluskey and Matthew Kulick also found that nearly 90 percent of the citizens participating in their study were willing to sign a petition to support an outright ban on the use of Dihydrogen Monoxide in the United States.

Why haven't I heard about Dihydrogen Monoxide before?
Good question. Historically, the dangers of DHMO, for the most part, have been considered minor and manageable. While the more significant dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide are currently addressed by a number of agencies including FDA, FEMA and CDC, public awareness of the real and daily dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide is lower than some think it should be.

Critics of government often cite the fact that many politicians and others in public office do not consider Dihydrogen Monoxide to be a "politically beneficial" cause to get behind, and so the public suffers from a lack of reliable information on just what DHMO is and why they should be concerned.

Part of the blame lies with the public and society at large. Many do not take the time to understand Dihydrogen Monoxide, and what it means to their lives and the lives of their families.

Unfortunately, the dangers of DHMO have increased as world population has increased, a fact that the raw numbers and careful research both bear out. Now more than ever, it is important to be aware of just what the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide are and how we can all reduce the risks faced by ourselves and our families.

What are some of the dangers associated with DHMO?
Each year, Dihydrogen Monoxide is a known causative component in many thousands of deaths and is a major contributor to millions upon millions of dollars in damage to property and the environment. Some of the known perils of Dihydrogen Monoxide are:

• Death due to accidental inhalation of DHMO, even in small quantities.
• Prolonged exposure to solid DHMO causes severe tissue damage.
• Excessive ingestion produces a number of unpleasant though not typically life-threatening side-effects.
• DHMO is a major component of acid rain.
• Gaseous DHMO can cause severe burns.
• Contributes to soil erosion.
• Leads to corrosion and oxidation of many metals.
• Contamination of electrical systems often causes short-circuits.
• Exposure decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes.
• Found in biopsies of pre-cancerous tumors and lesions.
• Often associated with killer cyclones in the U.S. Midwest and elsewhere.
• Thermal variations in DHMO are a suspected contributor to the El Nino weather effect.

This is not logical to me at all. You can carry an opaque container but you must send a clear container through on the belt?

Aren't they looking for C4 on the xray in addition to *knife* type items of course? All this talk of toothpaste density and all... how hard would it be to construct a false bottom in a starbuck's cup? Four or five grandes full of C4, some ipod headphone wires and a couple C batteries from that "special friend" and you could have yourself a bomb perhaps. Not being a bomb making individual I am not exactly sure what is required.

It would seem the real issue is that TSA doesn't want to deal w/ potential spillage nor do they want to have to be the heavy and tell passengers to dump it out.

It appears the criterion is if the container is quasi-spill proof (i.e. commuter mug, tippy cup, water bottle), it goes through the belt; if it has an open top, you can carry it.

This is counter intuitive to the mission of ensuring our safety.

Alison
Chugiak, AK

hehehe, guilty as charged Your Honour, I did try to smuggle 25cc of DHMO into the country!

But seriously, the solubility of hydrogen into water is negligible.

I could do more harm if my clear liquid turned out to be a strong acid that could be used as a weapon. But then that would never turn up on an Xray (and neither would the dissolved hydrogen!)

So what do the TSA think I might hide in my 25cc clear plastic bottle? Puzzling.

Just a side note; are the bottles of wine in the plane made of plastic or anything? I don't think so. Anybody could grab one and turn them into a lethal weapon by smashing the glass and holding it by the neck. Not that I want the airlines to stop serving wine, mind you!!

Heck, no, they're made of glass. And so are most of the containers of duty-free liquor they cheerfully deliver to you on board after purchase.

Sometimes it's all just plain silly. If you travel a lot it helps to have a warped sense of humor.

One reason bottles have to go through the x-ray. No flames please.

http://allactionalarm.com/secret_bottle_safe.htm

Just to beat the bashers to the punch, yes we know you could easily hide stuff in an open styrofoam cup as well. A rule of thumb would be the more stuff we can x-ray the better but if a cup spills in the machine and makes a mess that will put a damper on how much we can x-ray. Or once again comes the catch-all, it's what the management tell us to do so we do it.

Good to know. Yet another thing to mess with those bozos at SFO! ^

it's obviously to kill any pathogens that are living in your filtered tap water (dasani).
we should be thanking them, right?

Even though I know this is a crack at our intelligence, I still have to chuckle a bit with this.

Bart, what's the deal with homeopathic drugs? I typically travel with at least Arnica. Does the x-ray machine affect its potency? I've never removed it and asked for a hand inspection. Should I be doing that? Sorry if this seems like a stupid question -- I just never gave it a thought before.

Since there is very little scientific basis to say that homeopathic "drugs" have any potency, I would say it is unlikely that the X-ray machine affects the potency. Since homeopathic remedies can be proven to be chemically indistinguishable from regular water, except for whatever magic is left over from the original preparation, I'm not surprised that someone would claim that X-rays disrupt this magic. Heck, looking at the bottle the wrong way might disrupt it!

But anyway, Arnica is an herb, not a homeopathic remedy, so it should not be exempt.