Call me paranoid. Call me a conspiracy theorist. Call me crazy.
But I won’t walk through a backscatter scanner at airport security.
I have 2 primary reasons for this:
- There hasn’t been enough research done to know what the long-term effects of these x-ray scanners might be.
- I’ve yet to fully understand how something that comes with a warning for children and pregnant women could still be OK for others.
Last week’s announcement that children who receive CT scans have a higher risk of developing brain cancer and leukemia reinforced the importance (to me) of not walking through the backscatter whole body scanners at the airport.
The study, conducted by the National Cancer Institute at the U.S. National Institutes of Health found that children who had received CT scans were at a higher level of risk (albeit small) than those whom did not receive CT scans. Furthermore, a child who received 5 – 10 CT scans, was 3 times more likely to develop leukemia.
To be clear, I am NOT arguing whether or not a child should receive a CT scan – these are important in diagnosing brain and other injuries. My point is that the long-term effects are only now being realized as years of data have been accumulated and analyzed. And it is interesting to note that:
Because the backscatter machines are not used for medical purposes, there is no oversight by the FDA, as is required for medical x-rays.
In this article by retired neurosurgeon Dr. Russell Blaylock, he points out that when CT scans were first introduced, the American College of Radiology said that they were equal to 1 chest x-ray. Later, it was learned that it’s actually closer to 1,000 chest x-rays.
“So what?” you might ask. Well, radiation generates free radicals in your cells which ultimately increases your risk of cancer. (Know all those anti-oxidant products you’ve been buying? They are meant to repair cells damaged by those free radicals.)
Yes, a CT scan is very different from the backscatter scanner and the radiation level is greater with a CT. However, the energy from the backscatter covers your entire body, on the skin’s surface and just a few millimeters below. Because some radiation-sensitive tissues are very close to the surface (circulating blood cells, eyes and the testes), it’s easy to see how we may see an increase in cancers in or around these areas in the coming years.
Though young children and pregnant women are the ones encouraged NOT to go through the backscatter, the elderly (with years of damaged DNA accumulated over time) may also be at a higher risk of cancer, including melanoma. Add to this list people with impaired immune systems such as cancer and AIDS patients or those with immune deficiency disorders and you can see how this might open a can of worms if the government were to say that backscatter scanners were not safe for this larger population.
If we were living in a pure environment, free of toxins, pesticides and radiation received elsewhere (such as from actually flying), I might not be standing on a soapbox about the backscatter. But we don’t live in a toxin-free environment, and the cumulative effects of the backscatter scanner are a big fat unknown.
Our bodies are under a tremendous amount of stress – both environmental and emotional – and I see no reason to add potentially deadly radiation exposure to it when I have a choice to opt out.
I realize it’s highly unlikely that everyone reading this is going to opt-out of the backscatter scanner and instead choose the invasive groping-that’s-called-a-pat-down next time you’re at the airport. BUT, do me this favor…
Make an informed choice.
Research already shows that radiation is not good for us. An occasional dose? Not likely to send your cells all in a spin – but why risk it?
If you do choose to opt-out, don’t let the TSA agents harass you into thinking you’re an idiot for doing so. Leave yourself 5 – 15 extra minutes to check in for your flight so if they are slow in finding you someone who can pat you down, you’re not stressed and acquiesce because of staff shortages.
The more of us who choose to opt out, perhaps the better staffed they’ll be and the better we’ll be treated.
Me? I’ll continue to keep my eye open for the lane that is sometimes available with no backscatter. I’ll opt-out when I can’t find that lane and will keep drinking my green tea and goji berries (both high in anti-oxidants).
Travel Well,
Beth
Related links:
Opting Out of Full Body Scanners
Full Body Scanners and Your Health
Women Travelers and Whole Body Scanners
I always opt out of the full body scan at the airport, I’m glad I’m not the only one. It’s crazy that they can put machines like that out without proper testing, not to mention they’re very intrusive and leave nothing to the imagination of the TSA spotters.
Aaaah. Good to hear you opt-out, too, Reid. I always feel like I’m the only one as well!
We’re getting on the plane to Frankfurt today, and you bet I’m opting out.
I fly 150,000 K miles a year and always opt out. Yesterday’s grope was amazingly intrusive, but for the most part, the TSA agents have been really polite and pleasant.
I now add another 15 minutes to each flight segment that requires a security screening.
Yay, Lauren! Have a fantastic honeymoon!
Nazila – I agree, most of the agents (at least the “female assists”) are very nice. I’m sure they hate it as much as we do.
But I have been hassled by the TSA agents who waving me through asking over and over why I’m opting out. I usually refuse to answer. Someone on my facebook page just suggested saying that it’s for religious purposes! It might confuse ’em but they can’t argue given how touchy THAT subject is.
Or, you could totally have fun with them and say it’s because you’re a vegetarian or that it’s a gay rights issue – HA HA. That’ll have ’em scratching their heads!
Beth, I’m with you, I look for the line without the body scanners. However, after 4 months of travel in a cast I’ve had my fill of groping. If the body scanner is my only option I take it.
I think it’s interesting they let the crew skip both, body scan and grope, and simply go through the metal detector. A flight attendant I asked, said they did not have to use the scanner, it was in their contract. What about frequent fliers, I fly at least as much as the crew? Perhaps TSA Pre will add this to their services, then I’d sign up!
great post Beth! I am yet to encounter a scanner and am avoiding countries where they greet me with one! My reasons are less to do with the health risks (at least they were until I read this post!) and more to do with refusing to enter into this fear based paranoid society!
I’ve conceived, carried, birthed and buried both of my children.
Before the back scatter scanner things came into use.
I live in Australia and have to fly through LAX or SFO on my way back to visit my family north of Seattle.
I will not use them as there just isn’t enough known about their side effects. And that we are still trying for another baby with no luck yet.
I’ve heard from a TSA person that she had *PILOTS!* refuse to go through them as they’re exposed to so much stuff already while flying. Seriously, if pilots are opting out of the machines what does that tell you about their safety?
My husband and I always opt out of them and get patted down. I’ve found that if you’re nice and polite to the TSA people and explain exactly why you refuse to go through the back scatter machines that they are generally pretty nice about it. I tell them that we’ve lost both of our children and we are still trying to get (or may be at that time) pregnant. Most TSA that I’ve dealt with will do a quickie pat down and send me on my merry way.
I wish they’d get rid of the back scatter and just use the metal detectors (which I have no problems with using). Also that TSA would quit pestering us about why we opt out of using the back scatter machines. No means No.
I have never gone through one of them. I am not increasing my risk for cancer or any other disease and I will stand my ground. A few more minutes for a pat down doesn’t bother me.
I never ever go through the machine and always opt for a pat down. No question to me it isn’t something I will ever do If the American Academy of Pediatrics says “no” then I say no.
I am in agreement. But how can we protect ourselves from everything. I try. I look at labels for Sodium Laurent Sulphate in everything from kids shampoo to my makeup, we chucked the old microwave, stopped using the cel phones, no preservatives in our diet for the most part and only getting more obsessive as time goes on.
So much to worry about.
Love this! I travel for work, am a 30 something (childbearing age) and avoid the full body scanner at all costs. While they continously say that the amount of radiation is minimal and not more than I am exposed to while in flight; i can’t help but think they pushed these scanners to market way too soon.
The process to avoid the scanner isn’t pleasant. I don’t mind the pat down but I do mind the negative attitude and eye rolls I continously get from most TSA’s. They really do need to create a better process.
I always opt out. I live in Dallas and I have been hassled the most at DFW. I fly to LAX often and they are really nice about it there. I’ve also noticed it depends which terminal you are in. Hmmm. I really can’t complain about the pat down though. Everyone is always nice and quick.