As the former head of engineering and now a senior advisor to the engineering departments for a very large multinational company , I can generally assure you that the x-ray machines used for carry-on luggage will not affect your CF cards or your digital camera sensor. Also turn your camera off.
Electromagnetic (electro and magnetic are different forms of the same thing - too many physics classes to explain - trust me on this) fields/radiation though will affect your camera sensor and CF cards - the issue is the intensity or strength of the field/radiation AND the duration of exposure.
Generally, if you pass security 'normlly' - put stuff on conveyor, stuff goes through x-ray machine normally, stuff comes out, you pick up stuff and go to gate - then you will be OK.
I would keep the wand thingy (very technical term) away from the CF cards though.
I am uncertain about the checked luggage x-ray machines and their affect on digital camera sensors or CF cards. These have focus intensifiers that will expose your camera to very high bursts of x-ray radiation (which too is another form of elctromagnetic radiation - another long physics lesson). I have seen several debates on their affect.
I can tell you this though, all packages recieved in all of our facilities are irradiated with very similar machines used by the TSA's checked baggage screeners and by the USPS. I know the scientists are insistent that their digital equipment and all electromagnetic type memory cards are delivered hand checked. Next year, the engineering department will do a thorough study on the matter. Notice I didn't say they were correct but who's going to argue with some who are nobel prize nominees?
Art.
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