[ RadSafe ] Pilots urged to avoid body scanning

Sun Nov 14 11:09:00 CST 2010

George et al

The question we professional RP specialists need to ask is "is 0.06 microSv ALARA?"

John
***************
John R Johnson, PhD
CEO, IDIAS, Inc.
4535 West 9th Ave
Vancouver, B. C.
V6R 2E2, Canada
idias at interchange.ubc.ca

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George Sallit" <georgesallit325 at btinternet.com>
To: "The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) MailingList" <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 3:20 AM
Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Pilots urged to avoid body scanning

> Mark,
> 
> It is precisely the numbers that we as professional RP specialists should be
> talking about. 0.06 microSv is an incredibly small dose and certainly should
> not be a determining factor in whether these scanners should be used. If
> pilots do not want to be security screened then let's hear the reasons why
> and we should challenge the health and safety arguments when they are wrong.
> 
> I had also hoped that the gross misue of collective dose was no longer being
> done/encouraged. To talk about real cancer deaths from summing minute doses
> is a misuse of the whole concept. Common but still a misuse.
> 
> I agree with you about air crew knowledge of doses and whilst some air crew
> know the scanners use X-rays they are less aware that they get radiation
> doses from flights and the fact the flight doses are 100s of times larger
> than the scanner doses.
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mark Ramsay" <mark.ramsay at ionactive.co.uk>
> To: "The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List"
> <radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu>
> Sent: Friday, November 12, 2010 5:15 PM
> Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Pilots urged to avoid body scanning
> 
> 
>>
>> Agree...
>>
>> Without getting too hung up about exact figures.
>>
>> Typical back scatter scan - 0.06 micro Sv (effective dose)
>>
>> Typical dose rate at 37,000 above the UK - 5 micro Sv/h (high energy
>> radiation / neutrons etc etc).
>>
>> (We could have a separate debate about low energy x-rays delivered at
>> very high dose rate to the skin vs. High energy penetrating radiation -
>> another day!).
>>
>> I think the health issue is a red herring, but might be used to enhance
>> their cause (i.e. do not want to be scanned).
>>
>> That said, I have questioned various cabin crew / pilots when flying for
>> work and in most cases they appear to pretty much unaware of the
>> magnitude of the radiation dose received during their work. If this is
>> so then it might well be that they are worried about the back scatter
>> systems - in which case some education is needed at flying school!
>>
>> Rgs
>>
>> Mark
>>
>> www.ionactive.co.uk
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
>> [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Brennan, Mike
>> (DOH)
>> Sent: 12 November 2010 17:07
>> To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) MailingList
>> Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Pilots urged to avoid body scanning
>>
>> If the unions were really interested in reducing the radiation dose to
>> their members, they would push for some type of optimizing program that
>> had pilots (and other crew) flying routes closer to home, and decreasing
>> the amount of "deadhead" flying they do, just to get to where are they
>> are working.  Exposure is the same if you are in the cockpit or in the
>> main cabin, and both are vastly higher than from the scanner.
>>
>> On the other hand, I agree with the USAPA spokesman about how silly it
>> is to apply the same security criteria to pilots as to passengers.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
>> [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Perle, Sandy
>> Sent: Thursday, November 11, 2010 8:29 AM
>> To: 'The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing
>> List'
>> Subject: [ RadSafe ] Pilots urged to avoid body scanning
>>
>> Pilots urged to avoid body scanning
>> By Marnie Hunter, CNN
>> November 11, 2010 11:17 a.m. EST
>>
>> Pilots unions are concerned about radiation emitted by backscatter
>> scanning machines to create full-body images.
>>
>> STORY HIGHLIGHTS
>>
>> * Pilots urged to avoid body scans, opt for pat-downs when unavoidable
>> * Union president calls pat-downs "a demeaning experience"
>> * Unions support security checks for pilots that would allow them to
>> bypass standard screening
>>
>> Pilots' unions for US Airways and American Airlines are urging their
>> members to avoid full-body scanning at airport security checkpoints,
>> citing health risks and concerns about intrusiveness and security
>> officer behavior.
>> "Pilots should NOT submit to AIT (Advanced Imaging Technology)
>> screening," wrote Capt. Mike Cleary, president of the U.S. Airline
>> Pilots Association, in a letter to members this week. USAPA represents
>> more than 5,000 US Airways pilots.
>>
>> "Based on currently available medical information, USAPA has determined
>> that frequent exposure to TSA-operated scanner devices may subject
>> pilots to significant health risks," Cleary wrote.
>> American Airlines pilots have also received guidance from their union,
>> the Allied Pilots Association, to decline full-body scanning. APA
>> represents 11,000 pilots.
>> "It's safe to say that most of the APA leadership shares my view that no
>> pilot at American Airlines should subject themselves to the needless
>> privacy invasion and potential health risks caused by the AIT body
>> scanners," APA president David Bates said in a letter to members.
>>
>> Both unions are concerned about the effects of repeated exposure to
>> small doses of radiation emitted by the backscatter technology used in
>> some of the Transportation Security Administration's full-body scanners.
>> In the course of their daily duties, pilots are routinely exposed to
>> elevated levels of naturally occurring atmospheric radiation, which
>> increases at higher altitudes.
>> The unions urge members to choose security lines that use standard metal
>> detectors whenever possible. When faced with AIT screening, pilots
>> should opt for enhanced pat-downs, although this security procedure also
>> concerns the unions.
>> Unions are encouraging pilots to request private pat-downs. USAPA urges
>> members to make sure a witness is present during the procedure.
>>
>> USAPA refers to incidents where Transportation Security Administration
>> officers may have implemented the screening technique inappropriately.
>> One pilot described his experience as "sexual molestation," according to
>> Cleary's letter. Bates wrote, "There is absolutely no denying that the
>> enhanced pat-down is a demeaning experience."
>> Both unions are looking for long-term solutions to airline crew
>> screening.
>>
>> "Pilots really should never have been subjected to this type of
>> screening, ever. Because when we walk through these machines, within a
>> few hundred yards we get into what potentially could be the biggest
>> weapon on the airport, and that's the airplane," said James Ray, a
>> USAirways captain and spokesman for USAPA.
>>
>> Pilots are well screened with security background checks and regular
>> medical and mental health checks, he said. The union suggests
>> implementing alternate identity verification technology that would allow
>> pilots to bypass regular passenger screening.
>>
>> The TSA said it welcomes further discussion with pilots and emphasized
>> the agency's role in addressing security threats.
>> "We are frequently reminded that our enemy is creative and willing to go
>> to great lengths to evade detection. TSA utilizes the latest
>> intelligence to inform the deployment of new technology and procedures
>> in order to stay ahead of evolving threats," the TSA said in a
>> statement.
>>
>> -----------------------------------
>> Sander C. Perle
>> President
>> Mirion Technologies
>> Dosimetry Services Division
>> 2652 McGaw Avenue
>> Irvine, CA 92614
>>
>> +1 (949) 296-2306 (Office)
>> +1 (949) 296-1130 (Fax)
>>
>> Mirion Technologies: http://www.mirion.com/
>>
>>
>>
>>
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