TSA workers are blaming body scanners for cancer; D.C. public interest group calls for independent reviews

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

7-02-2011 @ 9:15AM

Destiny said...

It's common sense; why do you think medical technicians and dental hygenists all stand behind lead shielding when operating x-ray equipment ? Radiation builds to dangerous levels in the body after repeated exposure. The TSA has even gone so far as to forbid their employees to wear dosimeters (simple cards that measure radiation exposure over time).

It seems like the safety of the equipment comes second to the profit to be made by the manufacturers of these machines. The former secretary of the DHS, Michael Chertoff, is the one lobbying for the purchase of these machines. He is also the representative for Rapiscan, the primary manufacturer. Money talks.

7-02-2011 @ 9:20AM

dc walker said...

I remember when I was a customs inspector on the southern border they would take lead readings of the air because of all the vehicles standing waiting for clearance but they would never tell us the results.

When I left I needed a physical and I asked the doctor if he would give me a lead reading for my blood. It was .9. Higher than most people.

7-02-2011 @ 3:27PM

marc said...

Radiation does not "build up" in the body.

7-02-2011 @ 4:03PM

Hilary said...

Marc, as someone with a Biochemistry degree, I can say that you are misinformed. Radiation damage does accumulate in the body. Why do you think hospitals have cut back on repeated CT scans in patients? Prolonged or repeated exposure to ionizing radiation causes increased amounts of damage to DNA and cell structure.

See http://www.rsna.org/Publications/rsnanews/September-2009/EHRs_feature.cfm and http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19710483 for starters.

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