Title : Documents Show TSA Cover-Up of Body Scanner Cancer Risk
link : Documents Show TSA Cover-Up of Body Scanner Cancer Risk
Documents Show TSA Cover-Up of Body Scanner Cancer Risk
Sally PainterEPIC an appeal for its FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) case against DHS and leaves settled radiation data finally obtained the body scanner.
Before this resource, EPIC asserts that the Administration Transportation Security DHS (TSA) "results held tests, data sheets and estimates regarding the risks of radiation from body scanners which they are used to screen passengers at airports. "
EPIC first presented the FOIA request on July 13, 2010 with the Department of Security national (DHS). The request was for "agency records that are directly related to the radiation risks posed by the program full body scan of the TSA."
EPIC reports that "DHS acknowledged receipt of the FOIA request EPIC, but did not disclose any documents." EPIC then sued by DHS documents on 19 November 2010 (2).
While the DHS released immediately "key documents" at that time, according to agency documents EPIC still being held. The first group of papers published in 2010 revealed results of tests that use radiation body scanners could have been more than the TSA he said.
Regarding the lawsuit to force the DHS to disclose all documents, the trial court found that "the facts were 'deliberately' and therefore exempt from FOIA." The fight against this block, joined EPIC mediation appeal and was finally able to obtain the documents.
successful appeal of EPIC argued that "federal agencies can not withhold information on the events under the" deliberative process privilege 'in the Freedom of Information Act. " the court agreed.
what data sheets revealed
In examining documents TSA, EPIC found that the agency (TSA) " out not carry a "quantitative analysis" of the risks and benefits before implementing body scanner program. "
These were some of the concerns addressed EPIC 2011 in its application to DHS to suspend the body scanner program. That demand led to the successful "scanners eliminating backscatter X US airports rays."
uses the X-Ray "backscatter" "High energy X-rays." These X-rays penetrate more medical supplies X-rays that are low energy. Indeed, the machine enters the clothes to reveal the naked body of the person being scanned.
This intrusion of individual privacy through this indiscreet body image of a person and the security flaws in the equipment used with the TSA ability to store indefinitely those images are components of another lawsuit EPIC against DHS / TSA.
Among the documents received EPIC under the FOIA were two emails from AJ Castilla, President of Local 2617 in Boston, MA. An email was to union members and the other was Heather Callahan DFSD, Castilla identified as the person on health issues and airport security (3).
of 19 May, 2010 email to Callahan has a subject line that read:
"RE: cancer + radiation safety and health risk concerns BOS TSO"Castilla notes that while some people with cancer are no longer working at the airport:
Castilla writes that TSO "constantly complain to me [as I am sure they are complaining to TSA] regarding its concern about the increasing number of TSO work here who have been diagnosed with cancer and their concerns that the technology used by the TSA can be . be culpa "
" ... .BOS still has an alarmingly high number of cancer afflicted TSO continues to work here or limit when trying to cope with the disease. "A very revealing of the email is the reference of Castilla this is not a new topic.
"Despite earlier claims management TSA, many TSO here do not feel safe from threats of radiation that can go hand in hand with the use of technology X-ray detection on all the latest [installed since TSA federalized airport security] technology that has been less used in our country that much older, but also feared Rapiscan machines ".More revealing fears TSO talk of Castilla an ongoing investigation
"I am aware that is currently helping TSA to investigate local employees TSA BOS with problems diagnosed cancer .. . "email to members of the Union
the other email is also of Castile and to the members of the union explains that a Callahan mail had been sent
"... that indicates our concern about the growing number of TSA Boston TSO work here that have so far been diagnosed with cancer."
Castilla also their concerns about the TSA does not have devices suitable radiation monitoring and TSA concerns about the "threat radiation unsupervised address both checkpoint and baggage TSO assigned. "
Castilla stated that a request was made to the headquarters of the TSA "to issue each TSO device monitoring radiation dosimeter" that workers could shorten on their uniforms. Monitoring devices would then be regularly tested by a "third medical center" so that the results could be tracked.
Another document has two other emails. The first e-mail refers to the second, which is dated November 16, 2010 On a "teleconference" taking place that day with Dr. O'Toole.
The first email discuss how the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) calls wanting certain clarifications made during the teleconference O'Toole in response to the article US Today 11/14/2010 entitled "Napolitano :. scanners are safe, discreet pat-downs". (4)
email explains that the director "is not looking corrections, just do not want any mischaracterization of its ongoing work"
Clarifications are bulleted:
-> NIST does product testing
-> NIST did not test AIT machines for safety
-> NIST measure the dose of a single machine and compared against standard
to understand the context of this email and its directives, an examination of Article Napolitano, November 15, 2010, must be examined. The article was written by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.
Section, Napolitano explained that part of the "layered approach" now taking security included the "deployment of new units advanced imaging technology (AIT)." (5)
She wrote:.
"AIT machines are safe, effective and protect the privacy of passengers have been independently evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute Standards and Technology and the Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University, all of which have affirmed their safety. "Beam stop leaks
it is clear that the director of NIST felt Napolitano had mischaracterized the work of NIST and felt clarification was needed so that no one else could exaggerate the role of the agency - .. implied or otherwise
However in July 2008, the NIST had issued a radiation safety and compliance Report in Rapiscan, indicating that fit the requirements of dose limitation (6)
regarding the dose to workers, the report states:
"Each of the two units acts as a beam stop for the other unit. However, the geometry is such that the scanning beam emanating from a unit exceeds the cabinet the other unit for a few inches on each side. "The report makes recommendations on how to remedy this situation.
Another document published in EPIC FOIA was an Executive summary of Johns Hopkins University, referring to the same issue of the leak stop beam units body scan.
the summary states that "due the primary beam overrun "limit radiation exposure to the general public," could potentially be overcome. "the report recommends that each installation site will be evaluated" or a beam stop being considered "(7).
the NIST report stated that "no data received in connection with the scattered radiation." This is the radiation to adjacent areas is dispersed during the scan of a person. in addition, no emissions data were provided '' leakage 'of both cabinet radiation.
Can course of Worms
According Napolitano 2010 article, most people prefer body scanners on traditional methods, however EPIC reported the opposite. Subsequently, the 2015 decision to abolish the TSA the option of excluding airport body scanners resulted in a coalition of EPIC and 25 other petitioning organizations DHS and Congress for a hearing (8).
EPIC won an earlier lawsuit against DHS violates federal law by installing the full body scanners without notice or comments Public.
The scanners were ordered removed. Since the DHS has not complied with the law, the DC Circuit Court ruled in favor of EPIC and ordered the agency "promptly seek public comment" on the use of body scanners at airports.
However, that was almost five years ago and DHS has yet to issue the final rule based on public comments. In July 2012, EPIC filed a "Petition for Mandamus" with the DC circuit requesting the body is forced to comply with the order and the law (9).
However, DHS could not issue the final rule as ordered by the court. In July 2015, Competitive Enterprise Institute along with others filed a "Petition for a writ of mandamus" similar to the request of EPIC 2012 for Mandamus against the DHS in an effort to force the agency to comply with the original court order ( 10).
EPIC reports that TSA expected issuance of its final rule on the controversial issue of body scanners is March 3, 2016.
in December 2015, DHS / TSA published a change in airport scanning procedure. The change of air passengers denied their right to unsubscribe scan the body (11).
This opened another legal issue surrounding the DHS. EPIC led a coalition with other human rights groups monitoring to combat DHS again.
According to Forbes, the coalition is asking Congress to hold hearings in order to "evaluate the conduct of TSA and calling for an end to account funding every body scanner and greater oversight TSA "(12).
References and Image credits:
(1) TSW: The TSA corrupt Is it too serious
(2) EPIC
(3) EPIC: Radiation dosimeter Cluster
(4) EPIC: Radiation
(5) US Today
(6) EPIC: Radiation NIST
(7) EPIC: Radiation Hopkins
(8) Coalition Privacy
(9) EPIC: Reference
(10) EPIC: Orders DC circuit TSA
(11) EPIC: body scanner
(12) Forbes
(13) Images of full body scanner
(14) Rapiscan
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