Nude body scans at airports - Page 19

On November 19 2010 15:45 Zealotdriver wrote:
Quote and attribute text that you didn't author.

That site offers up the FDA's rebuttal to the letter sent by the four UCSF faculty,
http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/SecuritySystems/ucm231857.htm#_ftn20

The FDA references many published works, and concludes


The FDA believes the risk of health consequences to be small, but it does exist. These machines do inflict damage in small amounts.

Edit: The FDA relied entirely on measurements of radiation from the machines and computer models to estimate the amount of radiation absorbed by the skin and other organs. There is no actual data on health effects, merely estimates that imply the dosage is very low. Even with the low dosage, damage still occurs.

Comparisons to medical x-rays open up a weakness in the pro-scanner argument. Medical x-rays have known benefits in providing information for immediate care. Air travel has defined benefits as well. These scanners have no such defined benefit to the user or even the security personnel, since explosives and other weapons can still be hidden on or in the body, checked bags, and carry-on bags.

While comparing the radiation dosage from the scanner to these other sources shows that it is a relatively low dose, it also calls attention to the lack of any positive benefit from the scanner while still causing some damage.