Image reading apparatus reading an original while transporting the same

An image reading apparatus comprising:

• at least three line sensors having filters, respectively, different in spectral sensitivity, and arranged in a subscanning direction with a distance therebetween to scan an original in the subscanning direction;
• a platen arranged between the original and said at least three line sensors;
• a mover moving said platen at a rate relative to said at least three line sensors, said rate being different from that of the original relative to said at least three line sensors;
• a noise pixel detector detecting a noise pixel from each of said at least three data output from said at least three line sensors;
• a color detector detecting a color of each noise pixel from said at least three data;
• and
• a determiner validating a result of detection for a noise pixel by said noise pixel detector when a color of said noise pixel and that of a pixel neighboring the noise pixel form a predetermined combination.