Interesting. ProPublica says that Europe just banned x-ray scanners used in airports because of health and safety concerns:Europe Bans X-Ray Body Scanners Used At US Airports
But the US is continuing to use them "to detect dangerous or illegal items."
Here's the European Commission's Press Release from November 14:
Aviation Security: Commission Adopts New Rules On The Use Of Security Scanners At European Airports
"In order not to risk jeopardising citizens' health and safety, only security scanners which do not use X-ray technology are added to the list of authorised methods for passenger screening at EU airports."Are Americans less vulnerable to ionizing radiation?
Perhaps not less suseptable to radiation but likely more suseptable to terrorism attacks.
ReplyDeleteWell, it figures. Here I am off to Memphis, where they actually use these whole body scanners. May ask to be patted down instead. They do *not* use them in Philly, thankfully. I don't want to go--waaaahhhhh!
ReplyDeleteConsidering how much I fly (almost never), I'm not too worried on a personal level, but what about people who fly all the time for business travel? No bueno. I wonder if we might see some class action lawsuits in a couple decades.
ReplyDeleteI agree w/ Caulfieldkid (is that Shaun?). I don't fly much, but radiation is cumulative.
ReplyDeleteShaun, good point about business travel. I feel bad for fetuses too, from the radiation during the flight also. If I was pregnant I'd try to drive if I could.
ReplyDeleteCumulative ...
ReplyDeleteThis article mentions an alternative that uses less harmful radio waves. Why not develop that technology?
I did the physical pat-down. Very respectful and not bad at all. Good to avoid the radiation!
ReplyDelete