Without conceding for one moment that the current Scan or Grope TSA policies are acceptable, they are a fact at the moment.
Let me clear up some misinformation.
The TSA uses two kinds of full body scanners.
X-Ray scanners, and millimeter wave scanners.
X-Rays are ionizing radiation that damage tissue, the effects are cumulative and in sufficient doses cause cancer. According to the TSA the X-Ray dose from a single X-Ray scan is equal to the X-Ray dose received flying in an airliner at altitude for 2 minutes. The second type of scanner is a Millimeter wavelength scanner. Millimeter wavelength signals are non ionizing radio waves. While some may not agree I and the overwhelming majority of health studies done on millimeter wave radiation don't think they are a hazard to my health. Updated My original search missed the X-Ray scanners hiding in plain site on the TSA site. thanks to those who helped find this info.
But there is a real health hazard involved with TSAs security procedures.
step inside and I will explain.
I understand that the TSA is just trying to do their job, but ignoring for the moment the legitimate outcry over the violation of our privacy and the 7 billion dollar boondoggle of the new full body scanners, the TSA is ignoring basic public health measures every time they touch a bag, its contents, your clothing or your person.
Simply stated, TSA agents are walking talking biohazards.
All of you that have traveled through an airport recently, when was the last time you saw a TSA agent put on a fresh pair of gloves?
TSA agents touch thousands of bags, computers, people, shoes and God only knows what else. Everyone of these items are potential vectors for disease and or toxins.
Would you shake hands with someone that just coughed into their hand?
Would you shake hands with a TSA agent after he/she had searched and patted down a days worth of the unwashed masses that come through airport security?
Think cold, flu, head lice, fleas, bedbugs, feces, urine.
In a public health context we would routinely require a glove change before touching anyone or anything and the proper disposal of the gloves before touching anything or anyone else.
PLEASE FOR THE LOVE GOD TSA AGENTS, CHANGE YOUR GLOVES BEFORE AND AFTER YOU TOUCH ANYTHING OR ANYONE.
Here is what I plan to do the next time I have to pass through airport security.
I will politely ask the TSA agent to put on fresh gloves before handling my personal items or touching my person.
I will explain the issue if I am allowed. Odds are that the TSA agent won't/can't oblige my request, so I will politely acknowledge their position and ask the agent if they would please raise the "hygiene issue" at their next staff meeting.
Maybe I will get lucky and the TSA will hear this simple sensible request and makes it policy to change gloves after every contact, that is what would be done in a medical setting, and airports like it or not are part transportation hub and part germ highway.
The only counter argument I can think of is that changing gloves takes too much time and its inconvenient to change gloves hundreds of times per shift.
Well I'M SORRY IF NOT CONTAMINATING ME WITH WHATEVER YOU HAPPENED TO HAVE TOUCHED PUTS YOU OUT, but that is not an acceptable reason to resist this obvious public health process improvement.
Safe travels to all.
Happy Thanksgiving.