Full-Body Scans Pose Little Risk - To Who?
Full-body scans have recently been given the green light in regard to safety for the traveler. According to research conducted at the University of California, one would have to "undergo 50 airport body scans to equal the amount of radiation received from a single dental X-ray."
When I read these stories, I find them frustrating. If you are healthy, I would probably agree with these findings. However,as a caregiver to someone with cancer who has endured extensive radiation and chemotherapy, which leaves the immune system chronically depressed, this cavalier attitude by our federal government makes me angry.
There are many things in our daily lives that have been deemed "safe" with low risk, but nowhere has anyone done a study on ALL of these things combined in our daily lives. When my husband contracted cancer, suddenly all these things took on a completely different meaning for me. We now eat more organics, select non-steroidal injected meats, prepare our own food, and minimize use of the microwave. This is just one more thing for me to worry about with this additional "exposure" he receives while traveling.
It may be "minimal exposure" for those of us who are healthy, but I would like to see as study for those who are not. Those with compromised immune systems should be offered the option of something other than the invasive pat-down now considered the only alternative.
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