Cancer Cluster Possibly Found Among TSA Workers

OverTheGeicoE writes "TSA employees at Logan International Airport believe they have identified a cancer cluster in their ranks, according to documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act and released by the Electronic Privacy Information Center. They have requested dosimetry to counter 'TSA's improperly non-monitored radiation threat.' So far, at least, they have not received it. The documents also reveal a paper from Johns Hopkins that essentially questions whether it is even safe to stand near an operating scanner, let alone inside one. Also, the National Institute of Standards and Technology says that the Dept. of Homeland Security 'mischaracterized' their work by telling USA Today that NIST affirmed the safety of the scanners when in fact NIST does not do product safety testing and never tested a scanner for safety."

That's how to do it!

[gman003]

If you can't beat the system from without, beat it from within. We should throw as much support as possible behind this - get some lawyers in there, get some reporters over there, do whatever we can.

Good

[Anonymous Coward]

Not trolling but after what they did to this 95 year old woman http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/06/26/tsa-pats-down-elderly-woman-removes-adult-diaper-video/ I hope they all get cancer and die.

Shame on you TSA and shame on you President Obama for letting this happen to AMERICA.

Not regulated...

[black soap]

But you see, security devices aren't regulated. Medical devices are regulated, but security devices aren't medical devices. Says so right on the label. Just take our word for it that this is safe.

Re:Good

[g0bshiTe]

Not to beat the Obama drum, but TSA was created during the Bush years.

And rather than shame a President for letting it happen you should be shaming the US Citizenry that allowed this.

Re:no tears shed.

[Necroman]

Someone posted about working as a TSA employee on here a few days ago. He said he worked there for a few months. Most of the TSA employees don't enjoy their jobs and get no pleasure out of screwing with passengers.

A job is a job. It's unskilled work that will pay the bills, so people are going to take it if they can get it. If you understand that TSA employees probably hate their job as much as you hate them doing it, show them some respect and they'll be nice to you.

Good

[heptapod]

They deserve it. Random text to pad out the comment.

Re:Politicians

[Sunshinerat]

We need random TSA screenings in and out of congress and senate.
No exceptions, everyone could be a danger to the legislative branch, the best we can do is a fast line for senators and congressmen but the shoes have to come off.

I fly all the time

[xzvf]

As a frequent flyer it is fairly easy to avoid the scanners. Many smaller airports don't have them, and they are too slow for the majority of larger ones and are often turned off or majority of people waved around. Over time you learn where the scanners will not be used. The sad part is most TSA agents are normal people that need a job. They are forced to stand near devices that may be safe if operating properly, but over time normal wear and tear will increase the exposure. As is normal with a slow acting, long term effect problem, owned by the government, it won't be acknowledged until the majority of victims are dead. Like nuclear submarines, have the TSA agents where dosimeter badges every day for a year. Lets see if there is a problem.

Re:This isnt right

[Anonymous Coward]

This never should have started.
There is no principle of justice, morality, or reason that will stop the American government from harming its people and the rest of the world in order to benefit its politicians and business associates. The government is too corrupted and is beyond salvation. The only way to get it to do anything is by force. The only way to achieve that force is to raise awareness.

It sucks, but that's how it works.

Re:That's how to do it!

[Shikaku]

TSA Xray scanners cause more harm than terrorists.

I like the ring to that headline.

(And I've said this before. Can't be assed to look it up but I've said it on Slashdot even, if you care to search for it.)

Re:Would somebody declare a War on Supidity?

[Sponge Bath]

The safety tests are being performed as I type, using passengers as test subjects. In 10 to 20 years we should have some good data about long term irradiation of people with these expensive security placebos.

Re:If the scanners save one life

[jdastrup]

Ask yourself this question: Would you rather have Freedom or Security?

I choose freedom. Unfortunately I can't choose often enough because the majority in the US vote for Security, then act surprised when they lose Freedom.

Re:no tears shed.

[betterunixthanunix]

The difference is that the TSA employees who are performing the pat-downs signed up for the job knowing that they would be inappropriately touching people. A corrupt politician making millions of dollars violating our rights is bad, sure; but it is much worse to be the person who knowingly signs up for a job that entails something that can only be described as legally sanctioned sexual misconduct, which includes otherwise illegal contact with children. The TSA employees are just as responsible for this lunacy as their superiors.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Good

[sirsnork]

Yeah, cos obviously Obama hasn't had enough time in office to do anything about the TSA......

Re:I fly all the time

[Anonymous Coward]

devices that may be safe if operating properly

Saying that these devices are "safe" is a misnomer. These devices will cause deaths even if operated properly, there is no denying this. The discussion is over weather or not the casualties will be statistically significant, or socially relevant.

Re:Would somebody declare a War on Supidity?

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

wouldn't you think that someone that was the former head of a government security agency might know a bit about the needs of that agency and be able to start a company that can provide for those needs?

No, not particularly. Maybe a lead engineer, but not the paper-pusher at the top. He can be expected to know exactly what papers to push to convince the agency buy something though.

Re:I fly all the time

[Virtucon]

I had a TSA agent one time tell me how safe the back-scatter devices are. I replied "If you have a PhD, why are you a TSA agent? Is work slow at the University?" He didn't like that at all.

    Sorry, I opt for the pat down because until somebody with reputable credentials and thoroughly reproducible test results publishes something on the safety of these devices, I won't go into one.
I go fly 2, 3 sometimes 4 times a week and I already subject myself to enough radiation just by flying.

Re:Would somebody declare a War on Supidity?

[Smallpond]

Although I'm sure the baggage screening machines are shielded, they are still open on the end with just loose flaps. There must be X-rays scattered all over the place from those. Every radiology tech or dental assistant that I've ever met stands behind a lead panel for every X-ray, and they are only doing them once every 15 minutes or so. The baggage screening runs almost continuously.

Re:This isnt right

[Opportunist]

They conducted a survey. The question was "Are you for or against terrorism?" It shows an overwhelming support of all their actions to prevent attacks.

Re:I fly all the time

[jrroche]

Tell that to the 5 unemployed job seekers for every job opening currently. And the people who work for TSA are probably the demographic most likely to have trouble finding a job. Now isn't really a great time to quit your job because you're so bothered that it doesn't produce wealth for someone else.

Re:I respectfully disagree

[mr1911]

Oh yeah, they "my superior told me to do it" defense.

Yes, I condemn the rank and file TSA employees. Once you start doing the stupid shit people ask you to do, you are stupid too.

Re:I respectfully disagree

[betterunixthanunix]

in general they too loath what they have to do as a part of their job

1. They signed up for the job, knowing that was what they were going to be told to do.
2. They could refuse to grope people, out of moral convictions about inappropriately touching total strangers. Of course, anyone with those sorts of convictions would never have signed up to be a TSA agent.

Sorry, but I feel no sympathy for them. The TSA officers who stand around groping people are not contributing anything of value to society, and deserve more scorn than they receive. We are talking about people who signed up to grope children, harass elderly women, and generally undermine whatever dignity America citizens had left.

Re:Good

[artor3]

If he did anything about the TSA, he'd be labelled "soft on terror" and booted out of office. Blame the American people. Democracy means we get the government we deserve.