Abstract:

In the United States of America, airport security is regulated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In 2009, TSA started to use full-body scanners at airports for security purposes as according to them, it helps them detect bombs and weapons. In the United States, two major types of full body scanners are used, the backscatter scanners and the millimeter wave scanner. Both of these machines are helpful in saving thousands of lives, but recent studies show that they have also led to the death of a few others through cancer. New studies reveal that these machines release cancer-causing radiations and we should limit our exposure to these machines. If possible, prohibiting the use of these machines would do a better job. This research paper is meant to expose the dangers caused by these full-body scanners and what are the solutions to this problem.

The Cancer Risks caused by the Back-scatter X-ray Scanners

Airport Security is a global issue since passengers have to pass through various hazards. The airport security is regulated by an agency named Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In 2009, a young Nigerian man during Christmas time attempted to bomb a plane full of passengers. He was hiding the bomb in his underwear, which made it hard for TSA officers to find it and since then TSA started to use full-body scanners at airports. There are two types of full body scanners: the millimeter-wave scanner, and the backscatter x-ray scanner. Millimeter scanners use radio waves and backscatter x-rays use ionizing radiation. The amount of ionizing radiation released by backscatter scanners is low, but still can damage DNA and ultimately cause cancer. In America, five hundred full body scanners are used and half of them are backscatter scanners (Bindman, Mehta, 2011). Using backscatter scanners provides us with various benefits by providing a safe environment for passengers, but they can also spread cancer, and cause death; so, backscatter scanners should be banned in the United States.

Nathaniel Rich the author of “Showdown at the Airport Body Scanner,” writes about his experience with TSA (Transportation Security Administration) at airports. TSA security always bothers him as it makes him feel threatened. Whenever he must pass through the airport body scanner, he thinks he is going through a “cancer machine”. In this article, he explains his experience as quite horrible as he tries to manage excuses and delays before getting through the “cancer machine” (Rich, 2013). However, he feels trapped sometimes by the TSA department because he is left with only two options either to get a sensual pat-down or to pass through the cancer machine.

According to Rich, when he refused to pass through the cancer machine, the TSA officers took it personally and yelled, “Male assist!” One time when Rich was running late and he refused, he again faced rude behavior. He was told by the TSA officer that if he missed his flight, it would be his own fault and, if he did not want to pass through the body scanner, he would have to come three hours earlier to the airport. In response to the TSA, Rich explained to the officers that a report in 2011 by ProPublica and PBS News Hour concluded that the X-ray scanners can cause cancer to 6 to 100 airplane passengers traveling through the United States every year. Even after his protest, he did not get a positive response by TSA officers, but he felt proud of himself since he refused to pose like a prisoner (Rich, 2013). Another study done at Harvard University states that:

Natural background radiations expose us to about 2.4 millisieverts of radiations annually, which is 24,000 times more radiation than the high-end estimate of 0.1 microsieverts of radiation from a backscatter airport scanner. Smith-Bindman and Mehta make some other comparisons: it would take more than 50 full-body scans by a backscatter x-ray machine to equal the radiation exposure from a single dental x-ray, 1,000 of them to equal the exposure from a chest x-ray, and 200,000 of them to equal the exposure from a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis (Bindman, Mehta, 2011).

The author of this article Dr. Rebecca Smith-Bindman is a professor of radiology, epidemiology, and biostatics at the University of California and Pratik Mehta is an undergraduate student at the University of California. Their survey concludes that the risk of getting cancer from backscatter scanner is low, which ultimately convinces us to believe it is less harmful. This survey does a fine job in making us believe that these full-body scanners are less harmful but does not give complete safety assurance. This is an issue; even if the risk is low, it does not mean there is no risk.

In 2012, a New York Times article, “X-ray scans at airports leave lingering worries,” by Roni Caryn Rabin, a graduate student from Columbia University of Journalism, told how a pregnant woman named Yolanda Marin-Czachor had to pass through the airport security. Yolanda is a 34-year old mother and a teacher from Green Bay, who had two miscarriages. She was told by her doctor not to pass through the backscatter machine as there are not many studies that support the use of these machines to be safe. So, on the advice of her doctor, she refused to pass through the airport x-ray machines and preferred to get a radiation-free pat-down. “The younger children are, the more sensitive to radiation. T.S.A. employees have been known not to require children under 13 to go through an X-ray machine, although the agency denies there is any policy on this” (Rabin, 2012). Though some experts support the use of the backscatter scanner, there are others who are completely against its use.

In 2011, a study by the Marquette University College of Engineering concluded that the radiation dose from backscatter scanners extends to organs beyond the skin and these radiations are exposed to 29 organs of the body, including heart, brain, eye lens, and skin. This study was conducted by Taly Gilat Schmidt, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering and a graduate student Michael Hoppe from Marquette. According to Gilat Schmidt, “Access to the machines for measurements and assessments is limited. Public disclosure of the specifications of the system would enable more accurate system modeling” (Rovito, 2012). The public has limited access to these machines and most of the studies that support the claim that backscatter scans expose passengers to few radiations are conducted by TSA and Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Most independent researchers at institutions are not able to access these scanners directly, which makes it hard for them to evaluate their working and ultimately the abilities of researchers to find the truth are hampered. According to Schmidt, the studies by TSA and FDA are not so trustworthy as their research hides the name of the author and researcher.

In 2012, David Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Medical Center demonstrated the working of the backscatter scanner. According to Brenner, these backscatters scanners move a narrowly focused beam of high-intensity radiation very quickly across the body, which makes him worried about the safety of the passenger. Brenner explains to us that if there occurs a mechanical malfunction of these machines it is extremely dangerous for the health of passengers since in such a case the radiation could stop in one place and expose it to high amounts of radiations. “A recent T.S.A. report said that between May 2010 and May 2011, there were 3,778 service calls concerning mechanical problems in backscatter X-ray machines” (Rabin, 2012). These backscatter scanners are capable of delivering high radiation doses, which increases the risk of cancer to a greater extent if there is a mechanical malfunction.

TSA emphasizes that these machines have been extremely useful in saving thousands of lives because these machines detect bombs and weapons. According to Matthew Wald, a senior communication advisor at the Nuclear Energy Institute, these machines deliver a small dose of radiation in comparison to dental X-rays and thus are less dangerous (Wald, 2010). Though from the above statement we get the idea that these rays are less risky, it fails to prove that they do not cause cancer. As European countries have started to become aware of the dangers caused by these machines, they have started to ban them. Recently, Amsterdam banned the use of the backscatter machines and started to use another machine that uses millimeter waves. These waves do not have the same risk, but the images taken from this machine are not clear and appear blurry on the screen. This machine makes the job of the transportation security administration harder and the results are not satisfying. On December 25th, 2010 an Amsterdam plane was bombed since the security officers were unable to detect the bomb because they were using millimeter wave machines instead of backscatter machines (Bindman, Mehta, 2011).

Backscatter X-ray machines are helpful in saving thousands of lives; in return, they require the sacrifice of a few other lives. Cancer is the number one cause of death in the United States and the risk is increased with the use of backscatter machines. Many people will argue that a backscatter machine does less harm and more good, so we should allow TSA to use these machines. Such people should then be told that each life matters. There must be another alternative better than cancer machines; therefore, the government should take strict actions against their use and provide humanity with a safe and non-humiliating environment. This is an immoral behavior towards an issue since choosing an option to use backscatter might lead to human death through cancer. Moreover, the government spends billions of dollars every year on these machines that could be used in research to find another alternative method, which would be safe to use.

To this day, the problem of backscatter x-ray scanners still exist, and TSA has continued its use. Since the problem is alive, we need to take precautionary measures, which would help us reduce the risk of radiation exposure. In order to avoid radiation exposure from these machines, we should consider arriving early at the airport and asking TSA employees to get a pat-down instead of passing through full-body scanners. If you are pregnant you should definitely let the TSA employees know that you want to avoid radiation exposure. This way the officers might expose you to a little, or to no radiation. Being under 13 also allows you to refuse the full body scanner and you have the right to explain the TSA about this problem, which can help you avoid radiation. Older people and those with health issues should also follow this advice.

Backscatter scanners have been helpful in saving thousands of lives but have also resulted in the death of passengers through cancer. The European Union has banned this machine and has started to use alternative security methods; therefore, the United States government should also protect human life and liberty.

References:

Bindman, R. S. (2011, June). Are full-body airport scanners safe? Retrieved April 5^th, 2019, from

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/are-full-body-airport-scanners-

safe

Rich, N. (2013, May 25). Showdown at the airport body scanner. The New York Times. Retrieved

from https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/25/showdown-at-the-airport-body-

scanner/

Wald, M. L. (2010, January 09). Cancer risks debated for type of x-ray scan. Retrieved from

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/health/09scanner.html\

Rabin, R.C. (2012, August 06). X-Ray Scans at Airports Leave Lingering Worries. Retrieved May,

2019, from https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/x-ray-scans-at-airports-leave-

lingering worries/?searchResultPosition=1

Rovito, R. (2012, June 11). Marquette University study shows radiation from airport scanners

extends into organs. Retrieved May 10, 2019, from

https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2012/06/11/marquette-university-study-

shows.html