Re: Airport x-ray exposure study

[William V Lipton <liptonw@dteenergy.com>]

I think that this has already been beaten to death.  See NCRP Report No. 95,
"Radiation Exposure of the U.S. Population from Consumer Products and
Miscellaneous Sources."   This states (page 7):  "...Assuming that 30
million people made those trips and each one was immediately adjacent to the
inspection system while 2 bags were examined, the average gonadal dose to
those 30 million people would be about 0.021 uSv (2.1 urem)..."  Since the
"typical" external background dose is approximately 10 urem/hr, this is well
below the point of ridiculous, even if you're a LNT believer.

As a sensible precaution all of the operators whom I've seen at airports
wear dosimetry.  This would indicate machine malfunction, such as from
incorrect settings or missing shielding.

Evertything I've seen indicates that the public accepts these devices as
both a necessary precaution for airline safety, and, also, as preferable to
having to open luggage for inspection.

It would probably be more worthwhile to explore means of protecting us from
neutrinos.

The opinions expressed are strictly mine.
It's not about dose, it's about trust.

Bill Lipton
liptonw@dteenergy.com

Jack & Kris Patterson wrote:

> After posting a reply regarding x-rays and computers, it occurred to me
> that the health physics community can perform a public service.
>
> If any of you have measured the typical dose from an airport baggage
> x-ray unit, please send me the information and I will develop a fact
> sheet regarding the issue of radiation exposure at airports.
>
> The information I would need is:
> Manufacturer, model No and SN of scanner.
> Manufacturer, model No, SN and calibration date of survey meter.
> Airport, date of survey, person performing survey.
> Conditions of survey (meter alone, meter in/next to luggage).  A
> carry-on full of clothing would make a good "reference standard".
>
> I will publish the results and make it available on the web after the
> information is compiled.  This could be a useful public information
> tool.
>
> Please respond to my personal e-mail using
> jack.kris.patterson@erols.com.
>
> Jack Patterson, CHP
>
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