In 2011, union representatives for TSA workers at Boston Logan Airport raised concerns that radiation from full-body scanners could be linked to a potential “cancer cluster” among airport security staff.
The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) obtained documents through a Freedom of Information Act request suggesting that the Department of Homeland Security had not rigorously tested the scanners for long-term safety. Some documents indicated that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) had only measured radiation doses from individual machines against accepted limits, rather than performing detailed safety testing over time.
TSA agents requested radiation-monitoring devices, but these were not provided, leaving some employees feeling unprotected. Independent experts have noted that while the scanners’ radiation is relatively low, repeated exposure over time particularly for staff working daily with the machines could warrant additional safety precautions, such as dosimeter badges.
The episode highlights ongoing debate over the health risks associated with airport body scanners.
Read the full report on Time/Healthland