Do you use it? The everyday product that can trigger false positives on TSA explosives test

TSA Watch ^ | 04/30/2013 | TSA Watch

[TSA-Watch]

It's nuts. There are probably hundreds, if not thousands, of soaps and lotions that contain glycerin. I wonder if the soap in the airport bathrooms contains it?

[varyouga]

[humblegunner]

Here’s the original source where the blog stole the story:

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=22112531

[muawiyah]

The soap at the airport is probably desugared sugarbeet pulp ~ that's what most Walmart stores use, as well as actories and slaughterhouses.

If you do the graveside ceremonies you will probably walk away with lawn fertilizer ~ particularly if you wear tennis shoes!

[CrazyIvan]

I recall seeing WWII posters admonishing people to keep glycerin rich materials to make explosives.

[G Larry]

Soap?

I’m safe....

Never touch the stuff.....

[enraged]

Just flew out of Las Vegas last week. Who do they pick out of the line? The grumpy looking guy (me)? Or the cute little lady next to me? (the wife) yup, you guessed it, b-line for the wife again. I look thru the crowd and there are many people who I wouldn’t mind someone taking a second look at, but no... they go for the easy target everytime. These people are just window dressing at best.

[txnativegop]

please stay down wind . . . LOL!

[stuartcr]

At least we know that the tests are sensitive...better safe than sorry, right?

[KarlInOhio]

Some heart medications containing nitroglycerin can also trigger a false positive

The chemical test for explosives can detect nitroglycerin? I think that's a true positive. You might use it for medication rather than blowing stuff up, but it is still nitroglycerin.

[sheana]

About 5 years ago there was a huge local story about a man at our airport testing positive for explosives and them shutting the whole airport down. He was a gardener.

[rarestia]

Glycerin and glycols are in almost EVERYTHING. Soaps, lotions, antifreeze, fuel additives, and it’s an integral part to metabolic functions in our bodies. This is one of those instances where ONE particular use (explosives) demonizes the rest of the safer, inert uses.

[wita]

Exactly why it is important to go after the people not the materials. IOW profile. Meanwhile the TSA remains mired in minutia.

[Kirkwood]

I’ve set the chem detector off a few times. Usually it is my shoes picking up fertilizer residue.

[FamiliarFace]

Thank goodness the TSA saved us from a horrible outcome on an airplane! /sarc

[E. Pluribus Unum]

At least we know that the tests are sensitive...better safe than sorry, right?

In that case, wouldn't a test that gives a positive result 100% of the time be the best test of all?

[tomkat]

             

[stuartcr]

Yes, apparently this test gives a really high, if not 100%, percentage of glycerin. Glycerin is a component of the explosives they are looking for, isn’t it?

[white trash redneck]

I’ve gone thru TSA patdowns with shoes I had worn at the range a day or so earlier, and curiously, it never pinged their GCMS.

[I want the USA back]

The woman was befuddled and shocked. THAT is the intention, not safety and security. Grind the public into submission and teach them to be good little sheep with their heads up their a$$es.