[ RadSafe ] RE: Regulatory clearance for body scanners using backscattered x-rays

[Strom, Daniel J]

Radsafers,

ANSI N43.17 addresses doses to persons examined by such systems. ANSI
N43.16 is being drafted to address the safety of such systems.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI). 2002. Radiation Safety For
Personnel Security Screening Systems Using X-rays. ANSI/HPS N43.17-2002,
Health Physics Society, McLean, Virginia.

- Dan Strom

The opinions expressed above, if any, are mine alone and have not been
reviewed or approved by Battelle, the Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory, or the U.S. Department of Energy.

Daniel J. Strom, Ph.D., CHP
Environmental Technology Directorate, Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory
Mail Stop K3-56, PO BOX 999, Richland, Washington 99352-0999 USA
Overnight: Battelle for the U.S. DOE, 790 6th St., Richland WA 99354
ATTN: Dan Strom K3-56
Telephone (509) 375-2626 FAX (509) 375-2019 mailto:strom at pnl.gov
Brief Resume: http://www.pnl.gov/bayesian/strom/strombio.htm
Online Publications: http://www.pnl.gov/bayesian/strom/strompub.htm
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Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 06:20:01 +0000 (GMT)
From: parthasarathy k s <ksparth at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Regulatory clearance for body scanners using
backscattered x-rays
To: Fred Dawson <fred-dawson at blueyonder.co.uk>, radsafe at radlab.nl,
	srp-uk at yahoogroups.com
Message-ID: <20061117062001.18853.qmail at web26405.mail.ukl.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ascii

Dear Mr Dawson,

You may recall that currently various companies are manufacturing body
scanners using back scattered x-rays. These are being used at airports.
US FDA has cleared the equipment.

What is the current status in UK? I understand that there was some
controversy in clearing it as the device is for use on a mass scale. The
prevailing threat perception about terrorist activities may encourage
the use of this equipment in shopping malls, cinema theatres, railway
stations etc.

 I recollect that there was some discussion on the justification in
using this practice. Is it true that, as  some specialists  had
reservations, the UK Government (the responsible Secretary) used
discretionary powers under the regulations to get the equipment cleared?

I have seen the advice in the Health Physics Society web site reassuring
that the individual dose is extremely small and using collective dose
concept in that context is meaningless etc.(One of the manufacturers use
that advice in their website while promoting the product!)

I shall appreciate receiving from you or any from the lists the
following information

Was there a formal analysis to justify the use of this product? Is there
any report?

Regards



K.S.Parthasarathy
Ph.D