The future of airline travel? Internal X-Ray machines.

[Irish]

I fly frequently and do not feel the need to expose myself to the current potential hazards that are presented by the naked body scanners (Millimeter-wave or Backscatter) so I "opt out" when traveling and receive a pat down instead.

For full disclosure I fly several times a week and less than 50% of the time do I have to submit to a pat down, the reason being is due to the amount of time that it takes to scan people. All of the major airports I fly in and out of still use metal detectors to supplement the scanners and speed up the process. If I had to ballpark it I'd say about 1/3 of the travelers actually go through the naked scanners.

In Australia they're in the process of trying to approve using X-ray machines in airports to detect drug smugglers who swallow their illegal contraband to avoid detection. Normally these types of machines are used in a hospital setting with a trained professional and in a controlled setting. I find the fact that a layman will be using x-ray machines especially troubling considering the potential for harmful after affects.

If we were to pass similar legislation and were to adopt the use of X-ray machines in the U.S. I would be forced to find a new line of work that doesn't require air travel. I absolutely will not consent to being bombarded with cancer causing radiation due to someone having a suspicion that I might have swallowed some sort of "contraband".

http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/no-place-left-to-hide-drugs-with-x-ray-technology/story-e6frfq80-1226011075259#ixzz1F0BLHpfi

How would these changes affect you and your air travel plans? Do you submit to the current crop of scanners? Would you resist these new x-ray machines or simply acquiesce to their new demands?

[Palmguy]

This is the obvious next step down the line after where we currently are (current full body scans/pat downs). I am not surprised at all that this is already starting to emerge.

[pilotguyo540]

I fly just as much as you. I would probably find a new line of work too. I always opt out of backscatter and millimeter wave scans. The pat down isn't that bad. I don't run into the scanners/x-ray very often. Luck has been on my side and I have only had to do the enhanced pat down twice so far.

[Irish]

An interesting article detailing the destruction of DNA by the terahertz waves that are currently being used. http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/arxiv/24331/


Alexandrov and co have created a model to investigate how THz fields interact with double-stranded DNA and what they've found is remarkable. They say that although the forces generated are tiny, resonant effects allow THz waves to unzip double-stranded DNA, creating bubbles in the double strand that could significantly interfere with processes such as gene expression and DNA replication. That's a jaw dropping conclusion.

[GermanSynergy]

That can't be true. The media assured us it was 100% safe back in November. :rolleyes:

[Irish]

That can't be true. The media assured us it was 100% safe back in November. :rolleyes:

Columbia University - Body scanners increase risk of cancer. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1290527/Airport-body-scanners-deliver-radiation-dose-20-times-higher-thought.html

Faculty from USCF concur and state that an increased level of breast cancer and sperm mutilation will occur with further usage of the machines. Dr. Sedat is a Professor Emeritus in Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco, with expertise in imaging. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences. The other cosigners include Dr Marc Shuman, and internationally well known and respected cancer expert and UCSF professor, as well as Drs David Agard and Robert Stroud, who are UCSF Professors, X-ray crystallographers, imaging experts and NAS members. http://www.naturalnews.com/files/TSA_Naked_Body_Scanners.pdf

CT Scans will cause 29,000 new cases of cancer and 15,000 American deaths per year. Now imagine if we have that technology being used millions of times a year on unsuspecting citizens. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/will_die_from_ct_scans_i6rljI0YALLNdfFIzyHUtJ

Related to this is the fact that people with guns are making it through the backscatter machines repeatedly without being caught. http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/TSA-Agent-Slips-Through-DFW-Body-Scanner-With-a-Gun-116497568.html

[GermanSynergy]

I believe you, Irish. I emailed this to some left leaning family members and they scolded me for not believing the party line.


Columbia University - Body scanners increase risk of cancer. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1290527/Airport-body-scanners-deliver-radiation-dose-20-times-higher-thought.html

Faculty from USCF concur and state that an increased level of breast cancer and sperm mutilation will occur with further usage of the machines. Dr. Sedat is a Professor Emeritus in Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco, with expertise in imaging. He is also a member of the National Academy of Sciences. The other cosigners include Dr Marc Shuman, and internationally well known and respected cancer expert and UCSF professor, as well as Drs David Agard and Robert Stroud, who are UCSF Professors, X-ray crystallographers, imaging experts and NAS members. http://www.naturalnews.com/files/TSA_Naked_Body_Scanners.pdf

CT Scans will cause 29,000 new cases of cancer and 15,000 American deaths per year. Now imagine if we have that technology being used millions of times a year on unsuspecting citizens. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/will_die_from_ct_scans_i6rljI0YALLNdfFIzyHUtJ

Related to this is the fact that people with guns are making it through the backscatter machines repeatedly without being caught. http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/TSA-Agent-Slips-Through-DFW-Body-Scanner-With-a-Gun-116497568.html

[Irish]

I believe you, Irish. I emailed this to some left leaning family members and they scolded me for not believing the party line.

I was just trying to provide some more sources. ;)

[QuietShootr]

I fly frequently and do not feel the need to expose myself to the current potential hazards that are presented by the naked body scanners (Millimeter-wave or Backscatter) so I "opt out" when traveling and receive a pat down instead.

For full disclosure I fly several times a week and less than 50% of the time do I have to submit to a pat down, the reason being is due to the amount of time that it takes to scan people. All of the major airports I fly in and out of still use metal detectors to supplement the scanners and speed up the process. If I had to ballpark it I'd say about 1/3 of the travelers actually go through the naked scanners.

In Australia they're in the process of trying to approve using X-ray machines in airports to detect drug smugglers who swallow their illegal contraband to avoid detection. Normally these types of machines are used in a hospital setting with a trained professional and in a controlled setting. I find the fact that a layman will be using x-ray machines especially troubling considering the potential for harmful after affects.

If we were to pass similar legislation and were to adopt the use of X-ray machines in the U.S. I would be forced to find a new line of work that doesn't require air travel. I absolutely will not consent to being bombarded with cancer causing radiation due to someone having a suspicion that I might have swallowed some sort of "contraband".

http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/no-place-left-to-hide-drugs-with-x-ray-technology/story-e6frfq80-1226011075259#ixzz1F0BLHpfi

How would these changes affect you and your air travel plans? Do you submit to the current crop of scanners? Would you resist these new x-ray machines or simply acquiesce to their new demands?

Nope, don't take the backscatter scan now, and I damn sure won't do that one. If it becomes mandatory, well, I guess if I can't drive there I'm not going.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Sounds like that War on Terrorism is going really well.


We can't waterboard or even use harsh language on a guy if we find a nuclear bomb on him, but I can get irradiated, microwaved, fondled and swabbed because I want to fly to Des Moines.