It has been said that the radiation one receives from one of these TSA X-Ray machines is less than traveling in the plane at 30,000 feet, or living in Denver, or eating a banana.
Well, the radiation from these machines comes in one quick pulse. And there is no dispute that one short large dose of radiation is more harmful than a longer smaller dose of radiation.
Further, these machines have not been tested properly. The manufacturers claim only a small dose but there are many reasons to doubt these claims. Security concerns have limited independent testing.
Why is there not more concern regarding the radiation from these machines? It seems pretty clear to me that if one cares at all about their health they will opt for a pat down instead of being X-rayed.
8:18 AM PT: Here is a link to a USA Today article on these machines indicating concerns on their maintenence and operation..
http://www.usatoday.com/...
8:21 AM PT: Article on cancers caused by airport X-ray machines.
http://naturalsociety.com/...
9:21 AM PT: http://www.pbs.org/...
MILES O'BRIEN: Kazuo Sakai is a radiation biologist with Japan's National Institute of Radiological Sciences. He says a gradual radiation dose is not as harmful as an instantaneous one.
KAZUO SAKAI: When you reduce dose rate, so the effect is becoming smaller and smaller.
MILES O'BRIEN: The body heals, doesn't it?
KAZUO SAKAI: Yes.
MILES O'BRIEN: If you get it all in one shot, it is much more of a shock, right?
KAZUO SAKAI: Yeah, you are right.
MILES O'BRIEN: Right?
KAZUO SAKAI: Yeah.
MILES O'BRIEN: Sakai says six workers at the Fukushima Daiichi plant sustained