Hello, Gullible Flying Public
Do you believe the TSA's body scanners are safe, and do you believe that because a representative of the government tells you so? Becky Akers posts at Lew Rockwell:
In addition to the assault on privacy that millimeter-waves mount, they also threaten our health. Again, the TSA's liars stress that these gizmos are "safe for all travelers" and "[meet] all known national and international health and safety standards."But the fact is that no one actually knows how this relatively new technology affects human flesh. Preliminary findings indicate that terahertz waves, which are similar to millimeter ones, may "unravel" DNA, "creating bubbles in the double strand that could significantly interfere with processes such as gene expression and DNA replication. That's a jaw dropping conclusion." Which is jaw-dropping passion given that this article, "How Terahertz Waves Tear Apart DNA," appeared in MIT's Technology Review.
Meanwhile, all that's certain at this point is the necessity for much more research before anyone, let alone a litter of inept wingdings at a fundamentally mendacious bureaucracy, pronounces millimeter-waves "safe."
We have three radiologists in the family and all of them are pretty militant about recommending people not go through the scanners. The testing that was done on them was a joke by medical standards. They also feel sorry for the TSA agents who have to stand next to the machines all day. If you've ever had imaging done, you'll notice the tech doesn't stay in the same room and enjoy it with you.
Matt at October 10, 2011 8:04 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/10/10/hello_gullible.html#comment-2568742">comment from MattWe have three radiologists in the family and all of them are pretty militant about recommending people not go through the scanners.
Thanks, Matt.
Amy Alkon at October 10, 2011 8:11 AM
Scientists have not observed DNA in the process of being damaged by THz waves. Previous researchers had observed DNA damage in tissues that had been exposed to THz radiation. No one could explain how such weak radiation could cause such damage. What the Los Alamos scientists proposed was a hypothetical mechanism involving nonlinear resonance that they thought could account for it. This has not been experimentally verified. No one has observed this proposed mechanism at work. No one has caught THz waves red-handed in the act of damaging DNA. And there are other agents out there that could account for any damage observed in tissues that happened to have been exposed to THz waves.
That Technology Review paper by Alexandrov et al came out in October 2009. Here's a paper ("Modelling DNA Response to THz Radiation", by Eric Swanson) published in Physical Review E a couple of months ago that critically examines this work and concludes that it's extremely unlikely that THz radiation is capable of damaging DNA:
http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/arxiv/pdf/1012/1012.4153v2.pdf
With the Rapiscan scanners, you are being exposed to X-rays of no medical benefit whatsoever. These X-rays are not being administered by radiologists. The TSA schmucks who stand around these machines all day wear no dosimetry badges and don't have a clue what dose of radiation they're being exposed to. And if these scanners malfunction, unwary people (children, in particular) could receive doses to their skin much higher than what the TSA claims.
So if you had to pick the lesser of two evils from a safety standpoint, the millimeter wave scanners are better. But why should you have to make that choice? Some THz imaging devices have resolution fine enough to pick out every one of your daughter's pubic hairs (if she has any pubes yet). If the thought of greasy McDonalds rejects in TSA uniforms getting a hold of such images troubles you, it shouldn't matter even if the Nude-o-scopes could be proven 100% safe.
Martin at October 10, 2011 10:43 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/10/10/hello_gullible.html#comment-2569463">comment from MartinTo be fair, Martin, they may not have been rejected from McDonald's. I mean, with TSA salaries being what they are, why bother applying?
Amy Alkon at October 10, 2011 11:10 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/10/10/hello_gullible.html#comment-2569476">comment from Amy AlkonTSA salary peek here:
http://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/TSA-Salaries-E41347.htm
Amy Alkon at October 10, 2011 11:11 AM
And again, the ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achieveable) goal for professionals is ZERO exposure unless a measurable benefit can be demonstrated.
Gee, this reminds me. Where's that tool, "Knowing"? Confronted with what the TSA really does, he left!
Radwaste at October 10, 2011 3:22 PM
How do you know when an apology isn't sincere?
Like this:
This is like telling your wife, on your anniversary, that 'Since my firm-titty high school girlfriend won't return my calls anymore, I'm in for another year. Honey.'
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at October 10, 2011 5:36 PM
>"safe for all travelers" and "[meet] all known
> national and international health and safety
> standards."
Did they mention that man made Terahertz waves are really quite new, and that no one has had time to study them or set standards in general?
kenmce at October 10, 2011 8:12 PM
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