Documents Show TSA Cover-Up of Body Scanner Cancer Risk
SallyPainter view more articles
07 March 2016 10:00
Facebook 217 [url=https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?hashtags=&original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.topsecretwriters.com%2F2016%2F03%2Fdocuments-show-tsa-cover-up-of-body-scanner-cancer-risk%2F&related=undefined&source=tweetbutton&text=Documents Show TSA Cover-Up of Body Scanner Cancer risk&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.topsecretwriters.com%2F2016%2F03%2Fdocuments-show-tsa-cover-up-of-body-scanner-cancer-risk%2F&via=https://twitter.com/topsecretwriter]Twitter[/url] 0 [url=http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2016/03/documents-show-tsa-cover-up-of-body-scanner-cancer-risk/&media=http://www.topsecretwriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/body-scanner-660x375.jpg&description=Documents Show TSA Cover-Up of Body Scanner Cancer Risk]Pinterest[/url] 4 Google 10 [url=http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2016/03/documents-show-tsa-cover-up-of-body-scanner-cancer-risk/&title=Documents Show TSA Cover-Up of Body Scanner Cancer Risk]LinkedIn[/url] 2
The non-profit public interest research center, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), obtained documents that reveal the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intentionally misled the public about the safety of full body scanners (1).
EPIC settled an appeal for their FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) case against DHS and finally obtained body scanner radiation fact sheets. Prior to this appeal, EPIC states that the DHS’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) “withheld test results, fact sheets, and estimates regarding the radiation risks of body scanners used to screen passengers at airports.”
EPIC first filed the FOIA request on July 13, 2010 with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The request was for “agency records that directly relate to the radiation risks posed by TSA’s full body scanner program.”
EPIC reports that “DHS acknowledged receipt of EPIC’s FOIA request, but failed to disclose any documents.” EPIC then sued DHS for the documents on November 19, 2010 (2).
While the DHS did immediately disclose “key documents” at that time, according to EPIC the agency still withheld other documents. The first group of documents released in 2010 revealed test results that the radiation from using full body scanners might have been more than what the TSA claimed.
As for the lawsuit to force DHS to disclose all of the documents, the lower court determined that “the factual material was ‘deliberative’ and therefore exempt from the FOIA”. Countering this block, EPIC joined an appellate mediation and was finally able to obtain the other documents.
EPIC’s successful appeal argued that “federal agencies may not withhold factual information under the ‘deliberative process privilege’ in the Freedom of Information Act.” The court agreed.
What the Fact Sheets Revealed
In examining the TSA documents, EPIC discovered that the agency (TSA) “did not perform a ‘quantitative analysis’ of risks and benefits before implementing the body scanner program.”These were some of the concerns that EPIC addressed in its 2011 lawsuit against DHS for the suspension of the body scanner program. That lawsuit resulted in the successful “removal of backscatter X-ray scanners from US airports”.
The “backscatter” X-Ray uses “high energy X-rays”. These X-rays penetrate materials more than medical X-rays that are low-energy. In effect, the machine penetrates clothing to reveal the nude body of the person being scanned.
This intrusion of individual privacy through such indiscreet imaging of a person’s body and the security flaws in the equipment being used along with the TSA’s ability to store those images indefinitely are components of another EPIC lawsuit against DHS/TSA.
Among the documents that EPIC received under FOIA were two emails from AJ Castilla, President of Local 2617 in Boston, MA. One email was to the union members and the other was to Heather Callahan DFSD, who Castilla identifies as the person over the health and safety issues of the airport (3).
The May 19, 2010 email to Callahan has a subject line that read: “RE: BOS TSO cancer + radiation safety and health risk concerns”
Castilla writes that TSOs “consistently complain to me [as I am sure they are complaining to TSA] about their concern over the growing number of TSOs working here that have been diagnosed as having cancer and of their concerns that TSA’s utilized technology may be to be blame.”
Castilla notes that while some of those with cancer are no longer working at the airport, “….BOS still has an alarmingly high number of cancer afflicted TSOs still working here or out while trying to address the illness.”
A very telling part of the email is Castilla’s reference to this not being a new issue. “Despite TSA management’s past assurances, many TSOs here do not feel safe from radiation threats that may go hand in hand with using x-ray screening technology, especially the newer [installed since TSA federalized airport security] technology that has been lesser used in our country than much older but also feared Rapiscan machines.”
Further revealing of the TSOs’ fears is Castilla’s mention of a current investigation, “I am aware that you are currently helping TSA to investigate the local TSA BOS employees with diagnosed cancer issues…”
Email to Union Members
The other email is also from Castilla and addressed to union members explaining that an email to Callahan had been sent, “…denoting our concern on TSA Boston’s growing number of TSOs working here that have thus far been diagnosed with cancer.”Castilla also states that their concerns about TSAs not having proper radiation monitoring devices and the TSAs concerns about the “non-monitored radiation threat facing both checkpoint and baggage assigned TSOs.”
Castilla stated that a request was made of TSA headquarters “to issue every TSO a radiation monitoring dosimeter device” that workers could clip onto their uniforms. The monitoring devices would then be regularly tested by a “third-party medical facility” so the results could be tracked.
Another document features another two emails. The first email references the second one that’s dated November 16, 2010 about a “telecon” taking place that day with Dr. O’Toole. The first email discusses how the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) called wanting certain clarifications made during the O’Toole teleconference in response to the 11/14/2010 USA Today article titled, “Napolitano: Scanners are safe, pat-downs discreet” (4).
The email explains that the director is “not looking for corrections, just doesn’t want any mischaracterization of their work continued.” The clarifications were bulleted:
–> NIST does not do product testing
–> NIST did not test AIT machines for safety
–> NIST measure the doses of a single machine and compared it against the standard
To understand the context of this email and its directives, an examination of the Napolitano article from November 15, 2010 must be examined. The article was written by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.
In the article, Napolitano explained that part of the “layered approach” now being taken with security included the “deployment of new Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) units” (5).
She wrote, “AIT machines are safe, efficient, and protect passenger privacy. They have been independently evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, who have all affirmed their safety.”
Beam Stop Leakage
It’s clear that the NIST director felt Napolitano had mischaracterized the work of the NIST and felt a clarification was necessary so that no one else would overstate the function of the agency – implied or otherwise.Still, in July 2008, the NIST had issued a Radiation Safety and Compliance Report on the Rapiscan, stating that it conformed to all the dose limitation requirements (6).
As for dose to workers, the report stated, “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 one unit overshoots the cabinet of the other unit by a few inches on each side.” The report made recommendations on how to remedy this.
Another FIOA document released to EPIC was an Executive Summary from The John Hopkins University that references the same issue of the beam stop leakage for the body scanning units. The summary stated that “due to primary beam overshoot” the radiation limit of exposure to the general public, “could potentially be exceeded”. The report recommended that each installation site be assessed “or a beam stop be considered” (7).
The NIST report stated there was “no data received concerning scatter radiation”. This is the radiation that scatters to adjacent areas during the scanning of a person. Also, no data was provided on “radiation ‘leakage’ emissions from the two cabinets”.
Ongoing Can of Worms
According to Napolitano’s 2010 article, the majority of people prefer body scanners over traditional methods, yet, EPIC reports just the opposite. Subsequently, the 2015 TSA’s decision to abolish the opt-out of airport body scanners resulted in a coalition of EPIC and 25 other organizations petitioning DHS and Congress for a hearing (8).EPIC won an earlier lawsuit against DHS for violating federal law by installing the full body scanners without notice or comments from the public. The scanners were ordered removed. Since the DHS failed to comply with the law, the DC Circuit court found in EPIC’s favor and ordered the agency to “promptly solicit public comments” on the use of airport body scanners.
However, that was nearly 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 agency be forced to comply with the order and the law (9).
Still, DHS failed to issue the final rule as mandated by the court. In July 2015, Competitive Enterprise Institute along with others filed a “Petition for a Writ of Mandamus” similar to the 2012 EPIC petition for Mandamus against DHS in an effort to force the agency to comply with the original court order (10).
EPIC reports that the expected TSA issuance of its final rule on the controversial topic of body scanners is March 3, 2016.
In December 2015, DHS/TSA published a change to the airport scanning procedure. The change denies air passengers their right to opt-out of body scanning (11).
This opened up another legal issue surrounding DHS. EPIC spearheaded a coalition along with other watchdog human rights groups to fight DHS once more. According to Forbes, the coalition is asking Congress to hold hearings in order to “assess TSA’s conduct and calling for an interim halt of whole body scanner funding and for increased oversight of the TSA” (12).
References & Image Credits:
(1) TSW: The Corrupt TSA How Bad Is It
(2) EPIC
(3) EPIC: Radiation Cluster Dosimeter
(4) EPIC: Radiation
(5) USA Today
(6) EPIC: Radiation NIST
(7) EPIC: Radiation Hopkins
(8) Privacy Coalition
(9) EPIC: Petition
(10) EPIC: DC Circuit Orders TSA
(11) EPIC: Body Scanner
(12) Forbes
(13) Images of Full Body Scanner
(14) Rapiscan
Originally published on TopSecretWriters.com
http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2016/03/documents-show-tsa-cover-up-of-body-scanner-cancer-risk/
Today at 8:51 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 4/26/24 Iraqi Dinar - US Treasury Exchange Rates- Focus - Banking Partnerships - Rate C
Today at 8:49 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The government has launched many strategies and initiatives that will improve the reality
Today at 8:42 am by Rocky
» International Business: Iraq has made progress in supporting businesses through investment and priva
Today at 8:33 am by Rocky
» Association of Banks: Iraq is witnessing great development in the transition to electronic governmen
Today at 8:25 am by Rocky
» The House of Representatives votes to add an item to its agenda (election of the Speaker of the Hous
Today at 8:22 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary integrity: Combating corruption requires parliamentary legislation
Today at 8:15 am by Rocky
» Al-Karaawi: America is trying to restrict Iraq
Today at 8:13 am by Rocky
» The State of Law coalition moves to form the local government in Diyala
Today at 8:12 am by Rocky
» The Sudanese and his battle against corruption.. Where is the fault with the government or with the
Today at 8:11 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister's Advisor: We will see the dollar fall on the black market soon
Today at 8:09 am by Rocky
» The Sunni blocs are resolute. The presidency of the Council is ours, away from Al-Halbousi
Today at 8:08 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani discusses with a workers’ organization his government’s steps in this field
Today at 7:58 am by Rocky
» Parliament holds its session in the presence of 170 deputies
Today at 7:57 am by Rocky
» In the presence of Nechirvan Barzani and Al-Sudani... the State Administration Coalition holds an “i
Today at 7:55 am by Rocky
» The UAE company ADNOC resorts to Iraqi oil. Find out the reasons
Today at 7:53 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Parliament votes to add an item to elect a president to its agenda
Today at 7:52 am by Rocky
» The Federal Court responds to an inquiry by Al-Sudani regarding the powers of the provincial council
Today at 7:51 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: It is necessary to attract women to work as a productive energy that cannot be disrupted
Today at 7:47 am by Rocky
» Zebari regarding targeting the Kormor field: a systematic attack on the economy of Kurdistan
Today at 7:46 am by Rocky
» Saudi Arabia tops, and this is Iraq's rank... a list of major suppliers of crude oil to South Korea
Today at 7:45 am by Rocky
» With a value of 125 million dollars.. Iraq is at the forefront of countries importing Iranian textil
Today at 7:44 am by Rocky
» More than a billion dollars in sales from the Iraqi Central Bank within a week
Today at 7:43 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani stresses the need for the expertise of the International Labor Organization to legislate a
Today at 7:29 am by Rocky
» Including the return of 21 wanted persons.. The Iraq Money Recovery Fund counts its achievements in
Today at 7:27 am by Rocky
» The path to development is the criterion between true patriotism and political clowning.
Today at 7:25 am by Rocky
» The file of the Presidency of Parliament is on the state administration table... this evening
Today at 7:22 am by Rocky
» Director General of the International Labor Organization: Many challenges in the world of work and t
Today at 7:20 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The world is witnessing crises that reflect negatively on the Arab and international peop
Today at 7:11 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister: Our government has provided great support for the success of the activities, program
Today at 7:08 am by Rocky
» Al-Asadi: Iraq places the social protection file among its priorities
Today at 7:07 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraq is one of the first countries in the region to join the International Labor Organiza
Today at 7:05 am by Rocky
» In the presence of Al-Sudani and Barzani, the State Administration Coalition holds an “important” me
Today at 7:03 am by Rocky
» Appreciating the presence of Al-Sudani... Director General of the Arab Labor Organization: Here from
Today at 5:29 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister: Our government has provided great support for the success of the activities, program
Today at 5:28 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The world is witnessing crises that reflect negatively on the Arab and international peop
Today at 5:24 am by Rocky
» The Parliamentary Development Institute organizes a workshop on the political role of the representa
Today at 5:22 am by Rocky
» With Arab and international participation. Tomorrow will be the start of the Fourth Baghdad Internat
Today at 5:21 am by Rocky
» OPEC Secretary General: The end of oil is not on the horizon
Today at 5:19 am by Rocky
» Closing a number of unlicensed offices and companies south of Baghdad
Today at 5:16 am by Rocky
» Repercussions of the bombing...intensive government movements to resume work in the “Kormor” field
Today at 5:15 am by Rocky
» In the presence of Al-Sudani...the opening of the Arab Labor Conference in its 50th session in Baghd
Today at 5:14 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: We are working on drawing future visions regarding the “green and digital” economic secto
Today at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Barzani after the Kormor attack: We are ready to coordinate with Baghdad to put an end to these atta
Today at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani directs the formation of an investigative committee into the circumstances of the Kormo fi
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Bismayah is confused about the new electronic portal.. What about the landlord and the subcontracts?
Today at 5:07 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Government: Loss of 2,500 megawatts of electricity due to targeting the Kormor field
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Crisis in Kurdistan: 12-hour daily power outage and complaints of “confusion”
Today at 5:05 am by Rocky
» The Supreme Anti-Corruption Commission demands Nineveh for the contracts concluded by “Najm Al-Jubou
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Khanjar, Al-Samarrai, and Abu Mazen are hosted by Shaalan Al-Karim to discuss accelerating the se
Today at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Iraq asks the countries of the world to respond to its requests to extradite wanted persons: We have
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» “It is coming soon.” The Sudanese advisor sets the date for the referral of the Baghdad metro and th
Today at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Al-Mubarqa: Iraq reserves its full right to respond to the Australian behavior
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Dollar exchange rates on Iraqi stock exchanges... recorded a decline, and this is the list
Today at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Mr. Al-Sadr supports the position of American university students
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Iraqis are ranked 7th in the Arab world on the list of those most seeking immigration to America. He
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Soon.. 3 new hospitals will open in Baghdad
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Sponsored by Al-Sudani...the opening of the Arab Labor Conference in its fiftieth session in Baghdad
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Al-Shammari chairs a meeting at the controlling headquarters to review the results of the security o
Today at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Arab Labor Organization: We commend Iraq's interest in the Arab Labor Conference
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The development road project will provide many job opportunities
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Sudanese advisor criticizes Kuwaiti analyzes regarding the development road project
Yesterday at 2:21 pm by Rocky
» Al-Mandalawi stresses the need to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between Iraq and Poland
Yesterday at 2:04 pm by Rocky
» Power maneuvers: America provides defensive weapons to Kurdistan in exchange for withholding from Ba
Yesterday at 10:26 am by Rocky
» Kuwait is drilling an oil well near Umm Qasr, towards Iraqi territory
Yesterday at 10:24 am by Rocky
» In the document... the first Iraqi ministry identifies the obstacles to changing the new official wo
Yesterday at 10:22 am by Rocky
» Italian Institute: Iraq is stuck in its own crises, including Baghdad’s efforts to undermine the “au
Yesterday at 10:21 am by Rocky
» The head of the Integrity Commission announces the holding of an international Interpol conference i
Yesterday at 10:18 am by Rocky
» Planning: Iraqi companies are not efficient in conducting the population census
Yesterday at 10:14 am by Rocky
» MM&C 4/25/24 National Bank of Iraq goes live with Temenos core banking and payments
Yesterday at 8:06 am by Rocky
» A banking official indicates a "danger" to Iraq by depriving more than half of its banks of dollars
Yesterday at 7:55 am by Rocky
» With the participation of the Association of Private Banks, investment opportunities are on the tabl
Yesterday at 7:45 am by Rocky
» Within a month... an Iranian border crossing recorded a noticeable increase in exports of goods to I
Yesterday at 7:44 am by Rocky
» The Association of Private Banks appreciates the efforts of the government and the Central Bank to c
Yesterday at 7:43 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki's coalition presents a third candidate for the position of governor of Diyala
Yesterday at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Arab gathering: The Kirkuk problem is getting complicated and the Sudanese must intervene
Yesterday at 6:56 am by Rocky
» Next week.. a Kurdish delegation will visit Baghdad to meet with the Minister of Finance
Yesterday at 6:54 am by Rocky
» Under the pretext of salaries... Al-Party refrains from handing over port revenues to Baghdad
Yesterday at 6:53 am by Rocky
» Association of Banks: For the first time, we are witnessing a clear targeting of depriving half of t
Yesterday at 6:51 am by Rocky
» Parliament does not know the reason for the delay in sending the 2024 budget schedules: Voting takes
Yesterday at 6:49 am by Rocky
» Applicants for the 2024 Hajj are demanding that the Central Bank secure the dollar for them through
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Governmental and private banks will showcase their services tomorrow during Financial Inclusion Week
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Iraq's oil exports rise despite OPEC+ cuts
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» A study explodes a "surprise"... Iraq is among the countries that export oil to "Israel": How is the
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Araji emphasizes working to strengthen national identity
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani visits Saudi Arabia to participate in the World Economic Forum in Riyadh
Yesterday at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Iraq is talking about producing one million additional liters of gasoline
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers approves the implementation of the Baghdad Metro project
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Minister of Commerce: We formed a joint economic committee with Türkiye
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» Resources: Government measures have contributed to improving the water situation in Iraq
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: Baghdad will continue to send salaries to the region’s employees until settle
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» A parliamentarian describes the corruption of Iraqi ports as “ghouls” and reveals the involvement of
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Obelisk Hour: Basra is the subject of political conflict and ambiguity over the fate of the funds al
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Turkmen leader: An agreement on the local government of Kirkuk is near
Yesterday at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Anbar calls for the operation of its factories despite financial obstacles
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Turki: The crisis of the Presidency of Parliament prompted the Sunnis to amend the Council’s interna
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» The Agriculture Committee confirms the existence of Iraqi-Turkish-Iranian discussions on water
Yesterday at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Resources diagnose the challenges facing the water file in Iraq
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Parliament pledges to the Interior Ministry: We will transfer money to buy weapons from citizens
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky