9 chapters across the catalog
Adam Curry reports on a TSA request for information regarding radiation dosimetry devices for its officers. The hosts link this to reports of body scanners being removed from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, speculating that the agency is responding to a potential "cancer cluster" among employees exposed to the machines.
The TSA's "Blogger Bob" issued a statement denying the existence of a cancer cluster among employees at Boston Logan International Airport. The agency refuses to allow officers to wear dosimeters, claiming the radiation levels from backscatter scanners are too low to warrant monitoring. The hosts compare this to the irradiation of organic food, suggesting the government is ignoring health risks to employees and passengers.
TSA Cancer Clusters, Citizen's Dosimeter Patent
Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal concerns about cancer clusters among TSA employees at Logan International Airport. Simultaneously, the Department of Homeland Security has patented a "Citizen's Dosimeter" card to measure radiation exposure.
TSA Opt-Out Success and Dosimeter Talking Points
Mimi Curry successfully convinced other passengers to opt-out of airport body scanners by using specific talking points. The strategy involves questioning why TSA agents are not allowed to wear dosimeters if the machines are safe. The TSA has reportedly changed its procedure to be less confrontational during the opt-out process.
The hosts promote an upcoming "Talking Points Memo" regarding TSA scanners, focusing on the health risks of cumulative radiation and the fact that operators are not radiologists. They conclude the show by thanking producers and encouraging continued support through the value-for-value model.
The safety of TSA scanners is questioned, noting that while institutions like Johns Hopkins approve certain radiation standards, the specific machines in airports have not been independently tested. An anecdote describes how TSA agents are reportedly forbidden from wearing dosimeters, which are standard for medical professionals working with X-rays. The hosts suggest this policy prevents the collection of data regarding actual radiation exposure levels.
TSA Radiation Risks, UCSF Study and Dosimeter Bans
The discussion focuses on the health risks associated with TSA full-body scanners, citing a UCSF paper and a CDC report that found twelve checkpoints exceeding safe radiation limits. The hosts criticize the TSA for prohibiting employees from wearing dosimeters to avoid alarming the public. They suggest that travelers should present safety documents to agents and encourage TSA workers to unionize over safety concerns.
Activists are organizing a National Opt-Out Day for November 24th to protest TSA body scanners. Concerns from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) regarding the safety of backscatter X-ray radiation are discussed, alongside suggestions for passengers to wear dosimeters to measure exposure.
UCSF Radiation Warning, TSA Dosimeter Ban
Physicists at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) issued a memo questioning the safety of X-ray backscatter technology, noting that the energy is concentrated on the skin. The hosts report that the TSA has banned its own employees from wearing dosimeters to measure radiation exposure, allegedly to prevent public alarm. This lack of transparency regarding radiation levels is presented as a significant health scandal for both workers and travelers.
