We are again assured by our friends at TSA and DHS that the scanners are “safe”. 

To date, no independent party has confirmed the radiation intensity and body exposure number from this exotic imaging technology. Many scientists, doctors and researchers from the fields of physics and medicine disagree with the asserted numbers. Still, the actual measurements are classified and public reports have been heavily redacted for "National Security." Odd thing, public heath takes a back seat for "National Security" and the government's need to peek without a warrant. How about health security and body security?

Public dose numbers are unrealistic low

To obscure the real exposure, scanner manufacturers, in contradiction to international measurement standards, give the exposure as a "whole-body body dose." About, 90% radiation beamed at you is absorbed by the skin.[5] [5] Your skin is your largest organ and makes up about 10% of your body. By deceptively averaging the still unknown exposure over the body volume, it makes the published number appear 10X smaller. Simply put the published exposure numbers can't generate the detailed images without violating basic laws of physics.  When you apply well understood principles of x-ray detectors with known image quality, the real exposure is 20-70 times greater. 

Professional Parrots

Sadly, some medical professionals and others without questioning the complex secret measurements and bogus calculation's parrot the small number telling us “no problem." Others with financial interests and or have legal exposure tell the public the scanners are FDA "approved." This is a lie as no  FDA 510K application has been submitted by any scanner manufacture standard procedure or ALL medical devices. Conveniently, the scanner is classified as a "non-medical" device to avoid FDA scrutiny and viewing the public 510K application. The FDA has never done a formal product approval of any scanner. Others simply put forward silly comparisons of eating bananas or a few minutes at 30,000 and so on. All while reports of cancers in general are way up.[8]

Science Daily reported June 21, 2010. That cutaneous appendageal carcinomas -- tumors of the skin appendages such as hair, nails, sweat glands and mammary glands -- are rare but rates appear to be increasing in the United States, according to a report in the June issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. [1]  In fact, your skin is the fastest growing organs making it, particularly prone to cancer.  This risk is even greater in children and the elderly[7] for the same reason cells are constantly dividing and are susceptible to DNA damage and cancer.  Directing radiation to the skin to generate high-resolution images for unknown people in the back is criminal.  We all know the reports of women with "cute” figures being “randomly” selected for multiple scanning. 

Similarly white blood cells are in the skin keeping out bacteria and are sensitive to radiation. Science Daily reported on a Brown University study Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is caused by the uncontrolled growth of a type of white blood cell within the skin is on the rise. [2] This cancer spreads slowly, and may start as a rash. The cause of this form of cancer is unknown. While there are treatments, there is no cure.   

When you combine the chemical assault from aluminum, fluoridated water[3], arsenic in foods[4], heavy metals, microwave radiation, pesticides and other items in the environment some, we can’t avoid.  The X-rays break countless chemical bonds, proteins and wreck DNA.  Most is repaired but some damage remains weeks or year's later problems can arise.  Too late to complain to the manufacture or Congress and the subtle irreversible damage is done and hard to prove the source.
And they will claim it was “voluntary” as you were given the false choice of the dirty gloves in places they don’t belong or radiation, how ingenious.    
 

However, you can reduce your radiation exposure.  Europeans actually follow curative guidelines and do not use radiation without  a medical benefit oddly our FDA has similar guidelines. [4]  But, again, obsession with security and digital voyeurism trumps common sense and FDA recommendations.  This must stop the body scanners are simply a medical procedure without  a benefit or prescription. Operated by people with limited training, running machines few know the real exposure.  Systems are cleverly classified as “non-medical” avoiding state radiation inspections like similar dental and medical systems because they are owned by TSA?  Demand that this assault on your health and dignity ends.  

Jeff Buske

CTO

Rocky Flats Gear USA manufacture of body scanner and x-ray/radiation protective products. 

[1] Cancers of Sweat Glands, Other Skin-Related Structures May Be Increasing in United States

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100621173737.htm

[2] Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma On The Rise, Research Shows

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070716190851.htm

[3] Fluoride & Osteosarcoma:

http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/cancer/osteosarcoma-timeline.html                 

[3] Study Links Fluoride to Bone Cancer in Men

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,190977,00.html

[4] http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/default.htm

[5]Skin Lesion Leads To More Cancer Types Than Once Believed

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090602162000.htm

[6] The studies below provide evidence that x-ray mammography is a carcinogenic procedure that may harm between 10-50 more women than it helps.*

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/featured-october-article

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/anti-therapeutic-action/x-ray-mammography

[7] Dramatic Growth In Cancer Rates Among US Elderly, Minorities Predicted

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090429162237.htm

[8] Breast cancer rates increase worldwide, study finds.

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/breastcancer/story/2011-09-15/Breast-cancer-rates-increase-worldwide-Study-Finds/50414632/1

[9]  TSA Forces Woman To Use Naked Body Scanner Three Times Because of “Cute” Figure

http://www.infowars.com/tsa-forces-woman-to-use-naked-body-scanner-three-times-because-of-cute-figure/

[10] Underarm antiperspirants/deodorants and breast cancer.

[10] Aluminum Antiperspirants Likely Contribute To Breast Cancer

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/aluminum-antiperspirants-likely-contribute-breast-cancer

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/underarm-antiperspirantsdeodorants-and-breast-cancer