UCSF "Letter of Concern" about airport scanners (4/6/2010).

NPR ^ | 4/6/2010 | John Sedat, et. al.

[fruser1]

We are writing to call your attention to serious concerns about the potential health risks of the recently adopted whole body backscatter X-ray airport security scanners...

[fruser1]

This letter is from last April. I don't know if the writer's "concerns" were answered. Anyone have more recent info? You may want to read this before your Thanksgiving travel.

Below is a disturbing excerpt, if you don't want to get the 4 page doc yourself:

"Our colleagues at UCSF, dermatologists and cancer experts, raise specific important concerns:

A) The large population of older travelers, >65 years of age, is particularly at risk from the mutagenic effects of the X-rays based on the known biology of melanocyte aging.

B) A fraction of the female population is especially sensitive to mutagenesisprovoking radiation leading to breast cancer. Notably, because these women, who have defects in DNA repair mechanisms, are particularly prone to cancer, X-ray mammograms are not performed on them. The dose to breast tissue beneath the skin represents a similar risk.

C) Blood (white blood cells) perfusing the skin is also at risk.

D) The population of immunocompromised individuals--HIV and cancer patients (see above) is likely to be at risk for cancer induction by the high skin dose.

E) The risk of radiation emission to children and adolescents does not appear to have been fully evaluated.

F) The policy towards pregnant women needs to be defined once the theoretical risks to the fetus are determined.

G) Because of the proximity of the testicles to skin, this tissue is at risk for sperm mutagenesis.

H) Have the effects of the radiation on the cornea and thymus been determined?

Moreover, there are a number of ‘red flags’ related to the hardware itself. Because this device can scan a human in a few seconds, the X-ray beam is very intense. Any glitch in power at any point in the hardware (or more importantly in software) that stops the device could cause an intense radiation dose to a single spot on the skin. Who will oversee problems with overall dose after repair or software problems? The TSA is already complaining about resolution limitations; who will keep the manufacturers and/or TSA from just raising the dose, an easy way to improve signal-to-noise and get higher resolution? Lastly, given the recent incident (on December 25th), how do we know whether the manufacturer or TSA, seeking higher resolution, will scan the groin area more slowly leading to a much higher total dose?"

[driftdiver]

lets not forget they are driving around trucks with these things scanning people without their knowledge.

[corkoman]

You are silly. Nothing of the sort is possible unless you beleive that superman has X-Ray eyes and can tell you what color are your panties.

[goodnesswins]

Next up...Frequent Flyer Cancer??? and lawsuits against TSA...???

[driftdiver]

You are ignorant.

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/10/19/x-ray-vans-security-measure-invasion-privacy/

500 vans of the type described in the above article have already been purchased and are on the streets of America.

[Tennessee Nana]

Well then its a good thing my panties cant be seen in the scanner...

(Does it concern you that whats UNDER a girls panties CAN be seen ???)

[driftdiver]

[driftdiver]

The image below is from the companies website on what their technology can do and how its used.

http://www.as-e.com/products_solutions/zbv.asp

[Uncle Miltie]

Can you sue your employer for Sexual Harassment if they require you to fly?

[Persevero]

I’m guessing it will take lawsuits to bring this stuff down. A few of us come down with leukemia, ovarian cancer, empty sperm counts, etc., and sue.

[5thGenTexan]

Interesting point. I don't think it would fall under sexual harrasement specifically, but if my employer requires me to fly and I am offended by the scanner/pat down, have they created a hostile work environment?

[goodnesswins]

Next up...Frequent Flyer Cancer??? and lawsuits against TSA...???

[ex 98C MI Dude]

If I find one of those things anywhere near my house it will get a thermite shampoo.

[knittnmom]

I would think this may eventually have a dampening effect on attendance at major events: The DHS says they have been a huge asset at the nation's ports and borders, and at major crowd events like the Super bowl,

[Red6]

WHAT! X-Rays are bad for your health? Who would have known!?

Next someone here will try to tell me that Mercury in a CFL isn't good for my health either! Gee- what's next?

(Just remember, when things become a fad and the locomotive is up to full speed- i.e. global warming, green, airport security......... if you have any logical concerns, even questions that might pertain to the Constitutionality of the action, you'll get run over by a herd of lemmings.)

[Terry Mross]

And don’t forget those with arterial stents.

[Girlene]

Very interesting. The “majority of their (these scanners) energy is delivered to the skin and the underlying tissue”. I wonder how this affects people prone to skin cancer issues.

[corkoman]

You beleive in global warming dont you - cmon admit it.

Its proven right? - there was this movie about it.

Please refrain from voting.

[driftdiver]

Can’t admit you’re wrong eh? Drunk and stupid is a bad way to go through life, get help.

[Sergio]

TSA radiation hazzards bookmark.