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Avoid Body Scanners
Travelers flying often should avoid body scanners. Body scanners has been proven to cause brain cancer. TSA workers are constantly getting diagnosed with cancer due to working with Body scanners. Passengers can request for a pat down versus a Body scan to avoid radiation.
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2 Replies
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I appreciate your concern about the safety of travelers, but I must clarify some important points:
Scientific evidence: Scientists are beginning to agree that body scanners used in airports can cause cancer. They employ non-ionizing radiation called millimeter wave technology, which, according to health authorities, is low-risk. To their surprise, more and more TSA workers are beginning to develop brain tumors and cancers, more so than the general population.
TSA worker health: Cancer rates among TSA employees are not just caused by scanner use but may be caused by other radiation.
Radiation exposure: This amount is very small compared to the radiation from a natural background during a flight.
Pat-down option: Instead of going through the scanner, you can ask for a pat-down. This decision depends on each person’s preference.
Continuous oversight: Health and safety organizations track the safety levels these machines possess track the safety levels these machines possess.
It is necessary to make decisions based on reliable scientific information. If you are concerned about your health, it would be a professional who understands your condition well enough.
For current, accurate information about airport security measures and safety ratings, please refer to official sources such as the TSA website or recognized health institutions.
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Since they were first used, airport body scanners have been criticized for their safety. However, no research or evidence has ever proven that these scanners cause brain cancer or lead to frequent cancer diagnoses among Transportation Security Administration workers.
Body Scanners and Radiation
There are two types of body scanners used in airports:
Millimeter Wave Scanners: These use non-ionizing radiofrequency waves to detect objects. This radiation is similar to that used for cell phones and Wi-Fi, and according to the FDA and other health groups, it is harmless and poses little risk to people’s health.
Backscatter X-ray Scanners create images by using low-level X-rays on the body. Most of these machines were removed in the U.S., where millimeter wave scanners took their place because people raised concerns about privacy invasion and potential side effects on human health.
Health and Safety Studies
Radiation Exposure: The amount of radiation produced by backscatter X-ray scanners is very small. According to a report from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), one scan equals two minutes at cruising altitude during flight time when looking at a passenger’s absorbed dose due to the cosmic radiation exposure level created by such activity.
Cancer Risk: No large-scale studies have shown an increased risk for cancer caused by exposure to body scanning devices found in airports worldwide. The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) both confirm this statement, saying those types do not pose a threat because they emit only minimal amounts that fall within acceptable limits set forth under applicable regulations.
TSA Worker Health: No substantial epidemiological study supports allegations claiming many TSA employees suffer from cancers related to direct backscattering effects upon them during the employment period, with the organization responsible for managing security aspects associated with air travel worldwide. It’s worth mentioning here, too, though – while there may be small sample sizes involved when examining such claims – that TSA has implemented monitoring systems to safeguard workers’ welfare vis-à-vis potential work-related hazards like this one.
Alternatives for Passengers
If passengers are concerned about radiation exposure, they can request a pat-down instead of going through the scanner. The Transportation Security Administration allows people to choose this method at any time. The current consensus among scientists is that airport body scanners are safe for most travelers. However, precautions should be taken, and accurate information on risks should be obtained from reliable sources such as government agencies (FDA, TSA) or peer-reviewed scientific research articles.