DHS Agrees To Outside Study On Cancer Risks Of Airport Body Scanners

The Transportation Security Administration has tapped the National Academy of Sciences to probe the health risks of body scans to passengers and pilots after years of pressure from civil liberties groups and Congress. The study is limited to radiation and safety testing, and will not examine the privacy implications of the X-ray machines, according to a new contracting notice.

An academy committee will review the Homeland Security Department’s current procedures for measuring radiation doses people receive from the technology systems, along with previous studies. It is unclear whether the experts are expected to report on government tests or outside experiments. The Electronic Privacy Information Center has taken legal action to obtain DHS records on TSA safety analyses and third-party studies.

The academy will assess “whether exposures comply with applicable health and safety standards” for passengers and employees, the Homeland Security officials state. In 2010, the Allied Pilots Association urged its members to refuse body scans partly due to scientific results showing the machines might cause cancer...