Airport Scanner Danger

One way to avoid health problems is to stay away from unhealthy environments. Now we can add staying away from airports to the list with their new full-body scanners. In case you think I'm over reacting to the new scanners there is a growing list of scientists speaking up on the issue. Last spring several scientists at the University of California at San Francisco were so worried they sent a letter to the White House Office of Science and Technology. A European press story recently quoted Dr. Michael Love at the department of biophysics and biophysical chemistry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine saying "They say the risk is minimal, but statistically someone is going to get skin cancer from these X-rays."

It reminds me of all the women who were treated for breast cancer decades ago with high doses of radiation which was thought to be safe at the time. They later developed other types of cancer including bone cancer. I know this because I had a sister-in-law later die from her treatment.

While I'm the first one to want safety in our planes this is not the way to do it. The price for being politically correct and scanning everyone is going to be too high down the road.