Originally Posted by
KRSW
Generally, they're looking for nitrogen-based substances... so if you happen to have stepped in doggie doo, walked in wet grass which had been fertilized recently, etc., you'll set it off.
Products with glycerins are known to alarm. I don't know if they are nitrogen based or not. We also know that items with hydrogen peroxide will alarm the TSA's ETD testers.
The problem is that these devices cannot discriminate between a hand lotion or an explosive.
TSA's ETD testers are near worthless when they give more false alarms than actual hits on threat items.
Perhaps we should use the same criteria for TSA overall.