Originally Posted by
greentips
For those of you who are interested. Following is dry stuff probably only of interest to physicists and physics students. But some may be enlightened.
<all the good stuff>
If you want more, I could bore you much more than I probably already have. Class over. Questions?
Thanks for a very good explanation. My expertise peters out at a couple hundred GHz, but your description is very clear.
Originally Posted by
SATTSO
TSA employees both biologist and physists; these people understand very well the issues that cause concern for those here (read greentips post). So I think it would be incorrect to think that TSA does not understand this would be an issue.
Originally Posted by
SATTSO
If I was a sneaky, crafty TSA lawyer, knowing what TSA biologist and physists have said about the effects of backscatter, I would inform congress we couldn't deploy more units because of regulation. And if a crafty TSA lawyer did so, what are the odds congress acted upon it?
Again, this is allllll speculation. But if I ran TSA it's how I would have done it (actually I would have just deployed the MMW machines, not backscatter, but you know what I mean!).
I'm sure you would have done the right thing. But if you were a sneaky crafty googling TSA lawyer, you would have ignored anything you might know about the effects of backscatter (which would be less than nothing) and wave your hands and say "it's all harmless" so that TSA could proceed to get more and more taxpayer money to pay for useless equipment and keep Mr Chertoff and his cronies rich. Why in the world would any TSA lawyer (much less a crafty one) tell Congress they couldn't do something like this?????
For that matter, I rather doubt that the TSA so-called biologists and
physicists who are unable to understand the difference between fluid ounces and avoirdupois ounces, or who think that 6 3.4 ounce liquids are safe but a single 20 ounce liquid is hazardous would be able to understand a single sentence of greentips excellent analysis of x-rays.
Originally Posted by
TerminalBliss
Title 49: Transportation
PART 1544—AIRCRAFT OPERATOR SECURITY: AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS
Subpart C—Operations
§ 1544.211 Use of X-ray systems.
(a) TSA authorization required. No aircraft operator may use any X-ray system within the United States or under the aircraft operator's operational control outside the United States to inspect accessible property or checked baggage, unless specifically authorized under its security program. No aircraft operator may use such a system in a manner contrary to its security program. TSA authorizes aircraft operators to use X-ray systems for inspecting accessible property or checked baggage under a security program if the aircraft operator shows that—
(1) The system meets the standards for cabinet X-ray systems primarily for the inspection of baggage issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and published in 21 CFR 1020.40;
(2) A program for initial and recurrent training of operators of the system is established, which includes training in radiation safety, the efficient use of X-ray systems, and the identification of weapons, explosives, and incendiaries; and
(3) The system meets the imaging requirements set forth in its security program using the step wedge specified in American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) Standard F792–88 (Reapproved 1993). This standard is incorporated by reference in paragraph (g) of this section.
(b) Annual radiation survey. No aircraft operator may use any X-ray system unless, within the preceding 12 calendar months, a radiation survey is conducted that shows that the system meets the applicable performance standards in 21 CFR 1020.40.
(c) Radiation survey after installation or moving. No aircraft operator may use any X-ray system after the system has been installed at a screening point or after the system has been moved unless a radiation survey is conducted which shows that the system meets the applicable performance standards in 21 CFR 1020.40. A radiation survey is not required for an X-ray system that is designed and constructed as a mobile unit and the aircraft operator shows that it can be moved without altering its performance.
(d) Defect notice or modification order. No aircraft operator may use any X-ray system that is not in full compliance with any defect notice or modification order issued for that system by the FDA, unless the FDA has advised TSA that the defect or failure to comply does not create a significant risk of injury, including genetic injury, to any person.
(e) Signs and inspection of photographic equipment and film. (1) At locations at which an aircraft operator uses an X-ray system to inspect accessible property the aircraft operator must ensure that a sign is posted in a conspicuous place at the screening checkpoint. At locations outside the United States at which a foreign government uses an X-ray system to inspect accessible property the aircraft operator must ensure that a sign is posted in a conspicuous place at the screening checkpoint.
(2) At locations at which an aircraft operator or TSA uses an X-ray system to inspect checked baggage the aircraft operator must ensure that a sign is posted in a conspicuous place where the aircraft operator accepts checked baggage.
(3) The signs required under this paragraph (e) must notify individuals that such items are being inspected by an X-ray and advise them to remove all X-ray, scientific, and high-speed film from accessible property and checked baggage before inspection. This sign must also advise individuals that they may request that an inspection be made of their photographic equipment and film packages without exposure to an X-ray system. If the X-ray system exposes any accessible property or checked baggage to more than one milliroentgen during the inspection, the sign must advise individuals to remove film of all kinds from their articles before inspection.
Umm, yeah. As I've emphasized in the text above, this is entirely about using x-rays to inspect
baggage (carry-on or checked) whereas TK has pointed out that specific certification is needed for radiating a human being.
468.302 Use of radiation; identification of certified persons; limitations; exceptions.--
(1) Except as provided in this section, a person may not use radiation or otherwise practice radiologic technology or any of the duties of a radiologist assistant on a human being unless he or she:
Write your congresscritters, folks, but also write to the medical/radiographic certification agencies in your state. Real x-ray technicians should get upset about this.