The TSA Body Scan and Me.

Because there has been some discussion in the past about civil liberties and the TSA here on my site, I wanted to let everyone know what I’ve decided concerning the body scanners. This is a reversal of comments I have made elsewhere, and I wanted to make sure everyone was clear on my reasons for this change.

In airports using the “back-scatter” scanners will be opting out of having the full body scan. It is not, as far as I am concerned, a matter of the invasion of privacy or out of any sense of modesty. It’s not because I’m unsure exactly how useful the scanners are.

It’s a public health issue. I have three concerns.

1) The machines concentrates radiation on the skin. I’d be less concerned about this, but I live in Arizona, where we have a very high incidence of skin cancer. Adding more exposure I just don’t need.

2) I fly a great deal—more than the casual traveler. This last year I went through airport security at least 30 times, in at least 14 different airports. Couple that radiation exposure with what I get in the air, and I’m adding six chest x-ray per year to my dosing.

3) These are machines purchased by the government, from the lowest bidder. Maintained by the lowest bidder. On a schedule that is subject to budget fluctuations and other concerns. All radiation dosing is predicated on the machines running properly and within prescribed limits. I have no way of knowing if they are. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect that in one airport or another they will not be.

Moreover, the scanners are run by computer. If I’d never had a computer hang, or hesitate, or had never seen the colorful little pinwheel or revolving egg-timer, I’d be less concerned about the machine pausing in the scan to concentrate on one spot for a little too long. I really don’t like the idea of being a man-sized Hot Pocket in an oversized oven.

National Public Radio has a story about the scanners which gives numbers for dosing amounts. The math seems to indicate that things are safe. The government points out that the chances of getting a dose of radiation that would cause a fatal cancer is 1 in 80,000,000.

Roughly the same odds as winning a huge jackpot in Powerball which, I remember correctly, someone usually does win. And that’s a lottery out of which I shall opt. Or, to paraphrase an expert, “I can’t be certain what the cancer risk is from the machine, but I know it’s zero for the pat down.”

So, I’ll show up plenty early, get in line, and get patted down. (Be the most action I’ve had in years.) I won’t be outraged or surly. I have made my choice and I’ll happily live with it.

Note: To determine if your airport is using backscatter or millimeter wave technology, just ask. Oh, and smile as you go through. 🙂