Dosimeters

posted by gyma

The next time you fly, ask the TSA agents whether they are wearing dosimeters.  A couple of months ago, Ira Flatow of the "Science Friday" program on NPR, posted this:

This weekend, when traveling through the airport at Buffalo, NY I happened upon one of those new whole body x-ray scanners. Refusing to be screened that way, I chose for a full body pat-down. Upon gathering up my stuff, I asked one of the screeners if she knew how much radiation she was exposed to each day. She said she did not know and wanted to wear one of the badges that her friend wears at a local hospital, but was told “no,” that would not be permitted. She was upset with that decision.

Now why do you think that is? 

I'm thankful I don't have children because the choice between the backscatter scanners or an invasive pat down would make my head explode.

When I was quite young I often suffered from tonsillitis.  The family doctor was reluctant to subject me to surgery and lucky for me (!) there was a new medical breakthrough that was just what the doctor ordered.  Irradiation.  At the time it meant I didn't have to go under the knife, but it has resulted in life long medical problems for me.

So the idea that the federal government is preventing TSA agents from wearing dosimeters is criminal.  And the only time I subject myself to x-rays these days is when it's a life or death situation. 

YMMV.

Comments

[Ol'Froth]

Guess what the screeners at Pittsburgh International wore prior to the TSA taking over? And that was because they were around the luggage x-rays.