TSA workers, experts worry about radiation exposure

[harvey007]

Source: USA Today

In late November, USA TODAY requested current inspection reports for the 4,080 X-ray machines used to examine checked and carry-on bags, and for the 221 new full-body X-ray scanners. The TSA insists that all have passed radiation inspections conducted by contractors but has thus far been unwilling to release the reports.

Members of Congress are now calling on the TSA to release radiation inspection records, and one lawmaker — Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass. — has asked for an investigation into the effectiveness of the TSA's oversight of its X-ray machines.

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Airport X-ray machines are exempt from the state radiation control inspections they would receive if installed at a local courthouse or in a non-federal office building.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-12-06-tsa-xray-inside_N.htm

[demodonkey]

1. This is almost exactly like the voting machines....

....billions spent on paperless touchscreen and pushbutton voting machines under the Help America Vote Act, leaving millions and millions of votes with NO way to be counted outside these voting systems 'fail safe' software.

Vendors, who were and are making billions, were primarily responsible for the testing and certification of these voting systems along with a few low-level officials.

Since then we have had many reports of strange election results, but the government and the vendors tell us all is well and every vote is counted accurately.

DON'T BELIEVE IT. Every vote should be protected by a voter-marked paper ballot that has the capability of being counted by human hand and eye, outside of any software.

And don't believe it that the body scanners are OK. Maybe they are OK, maybe not, but do YOU want to be one of the 'unlikely' cases of deadly cancer that develops??

[Liberty Belle]

2. Problem: They assume it's safe for 1 exposure. Nobody's looked at lifetime max limits.

Here's a bit of info on this, comparing full body MEDICAL scan risks to people who survived atomic bomb blasts: http://crr.columbia.edu/reports2003/f3.htm

There's no doubt more study needed, but as someone who's already had numerous CT and MRI scans in my lifetime, I don't want any more scans at the airport. Now they're talking about putting scanners into courthouses, bus and train stations, so it would become impossible to avoid them if you travel or your business requires you to go to court at times (as my work does). So are court reporters, journalists, attorneys, and judges to be groped every time they go to work, too?

Personally I think the first place they should install one is in front of Congress and make every legislator go through it on a daily basis or be groped. That would motivate them to find better solutions to protect our health and privacy.