TSA Continues to Delay Release of Body-scanner Safety Reports
Thursday, February 10, 2011 at 12:01PM 
More than 15 million passengers were scanned by TSA's advanced imaging technology between October 2009 and September 2010. And, as we all know, the frequency of scans has increased significantly since then. Yet, TSA officials still refuse to release radiation inspection reports that detail the safety of its X-ray equipment.
U.S. lawmakers requested this information more than two months ago following an investigation by USA Today, the newspaper reports. TSA is hesitant to release the data before ensuring that they don't reveal any "sensitive security or privacy-protected information," a spokesman said.
As InHardFocus has reported, the safety of TSA's full-body scans has long been called into question by various groups. TSA has maintained that the amount of radiation in one full-body scan is equivalent to about two minutes of flight time. However, legislators--and the public--still have no official information on the reliability, long-term effects, safety and security of these machines.
Much of the concern over TSA's technology is based on precedent. In 2008, a report by the Centers for Disease Control revealed that TSA and its contractors had failed to detect when luggage X-ray machines were giving off excessive levels of radiation or had missing or disabled safety features, according to USA Today. Today, TSA is sending humans through X-ray machines--with little or no assurance of safety.
Although TSA has taken a few baby steps to reassure passengers that their privacy is protected, the question of safety still looms large. Until TSA releases the radiation inspection reports, passengers must ensure their safety on their own.
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