Metal detectors are commonly used in airports, courthouses, correctional facilities, and elsewhere these days. In fact, very few Americans have been spared a walk through an ominous metal detector. And many Americans have been asked to spread their wings as security personnel swung a handheld metal detector over his or her body.

Because so many Americans come into contact with metal detectors, some on a daily basis, it is important to realize health risks that are associated with them.

One specific group may be at risk because of the high use of so many metal detectors. These are people with personal medical electronic devices (PMEDs), like implantable cardiac defibrillators, cardiac pacemakers, spinal cord stimulators, ventilators, and drug infusion pumps.

This does not necessarily mean that a person with a cardiac pacemaker is at any serious risk when he walks through a metal detector or has a handheld metal detector swooshed over his body. More tests need to be made before such a bold statement can be fully accepted as truth. Rather, it is important to be aware of the potential risk because of the magnetic fields that are used. Be aware that higher voltages are more likely to cause damage than lower induced voltages.

There is also the concern that the exposure to magnetic fields can cause biological changes in living cells.

Also, it can be dangerous to have physical contact with high voltages. A properly enclosed metal detector does not pose a threat, but it is important to keep all metal detectors maintained properly.

For the most part, though, metal detectors encourage safety. By keeping guns and knives and other potential weapons out of places like airports, courts, and correctional facilities, many risky situations have been eliminated. In correctional facilities, handheld metal detectors can even detect small pieces of metal, like paper clips, that could be used not just as weaponry, but to pick locks, etc.

Another interesting use of a metal detector is to detect a swallowed metal object. They have been used in instances before in which a child has swallowed metal object like a pull tab from a soda can or a coin.

Overall, metal detectors are a benefit to society. Tests do need to be conducted, though, to minimize the risk to persons with PMEDs -- whether metal detectors need to be improved or PMEDs (or both or neither!), that is a question left to the future.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, safety, health, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on metal detectors, please visit Handheld Metal Detectors.