Speaking of radiation: TSA admits bungling airport scanner tests

[hlthe2b]

The Transportation Security Administration is re-analyzing the radiation levels of X-ray body scanners installed in airports nationwide, after testing produced dramatically higher-than-expected results.

The TSA, which has deployed at least 500 body scanners to at least 78 airports, said Tuesday the machines meet all safety standards and would remain in operation despite a “calculation error” in safety studies. The flawed results showed radiation levels 10 times higher than expected.

At least one flier group, the Association for Airline Passenger Rights, is urging the government to stop using the $180,000 machines that produce a virtual-nude image of the body until new tests are concluded in May.

--snip--
Still, the government said the results proved the safety of the devices.

“It would appear that the emissions are 10 times higher. We understand it as a calculation error,” TSA spokesman Sarah Horowitz said in a telephone interview.

--more---

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/03/tsa-radiation-test-bungling/

[tabatha]

1. Humans are always error prone - that

is why regulations (checks and balances) are so important. And the Republicans do not get it.

Everything has to be checked once, twice and then a couple more times again.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. calculation error.

And what of the thousands of fliers who have undergone series of Chemo and Radiation therapy, and whose Radiologist Oncologists have warned them that any more exposure will do far more harm than good, because their bodies cannot tolerate even one more dose?

Bastards. Plain and simple bastards.

[CountAllVotes]

3. stupid sonzabitches

They seek the incompetent for these jobs at TSA. They are beyond idiotic. :dunce:

In the meantime, you are being irradiated to death! :nuke:

[DCKit]

4. Republicon Health Inc. - Free Radiation Therapy with Every Flight. nt

[robinlynne]

5. The radiologist at kaiser told me NOT to go into a body scan. period.

Noone is ever going to convince me they are safe. She didnt say maybe, or I think, or perhaps...none of that. She said do not do it. period.

[obxhead]

6. I will not go through them.

I'll simply opt for the groping by TSA.

Maybe if every single flier did so, we could bog the system down so much that we actually change to far more rational security at our airports.

[Festivito]

7. So, they bought scanners from someone who did not test their own product.

And, TSA had to do the calculations on their own.

Now that the scanners are all purchased with our tax dollars going to some connected rich person, they figure out that the scanners should not have been bought.

[Little Star]

8. Yep, you got that right!

[hlthe2b]

9. kick... with so many competing stories, this one will be missed.

and i think the flying public needs to know about these findings.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. The company did not test it

that is what happens when profit comes ahead of ... human safety

[Arugula Latte]

11. Oh goody.

:eyes:

[flamingdem]

12. Heathrow and other British airports make the backscatter scan MANDATORY

See their website if you don't believe it... for everyone or you are not allowed to enter / exit.

NO option of a body search.