Re: Stop the panic on air security - err, no, irradiate it

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
> Date: January 14, 2010 5:41:24 PM EST
> To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
> Subject: Re: [IP] Re: Stop the panic on air security - err, no,  
> irradiate it

> Dave,
>
> It should be noted though that this assumes *properly calibrated,
> maintained, and operated* equipment.  Baggage X-ray scanners around  
> the
> world have been found to vary vastly in their radiation doses beyond
> the official specs.
>
> Recently, *major* hospitals here in L.A. (and apparently elsewhere)
> were discovered to be grossly overdosing patients receiving certain
> types of CAT scans (I believe involving more than one type of scanner
> and in circumstances that were not discovered for many months) due to
> programming and operational errors.
>
> Even though these were relatively clean and orderly facilities  
> (compare
> with most airport security lines!) these were not trivial overdoses --
> they weren't discovered until patients reported burns and hair loss --
> and longer term effects are unknown at this time.
>
> So when we're told how teensy-weensy-don't-worry-about-it the doses
> are from body scanners that aren't even going to stop determined
> terrorists anyway, adding in a fair dose (no pun intended) of
> skeptical salt regarding what happens in the real world with these
> devices would seem wise.
>
> --Lauren--
> Lauren Weinstein
> lauren () vortex com
> Tel: +1 (818) 225-2800
> http://www.pfir.org/lauren
> Co-Founder, PFIR
>   - People For Internet Responsibility - http://www.pfir.org
> Co-Founder, NNSquad
>   - Network Neutrality Squad - http://www.nnsquad.org
> Founder, GCTIP - Global Coalition
>   for Transparent Internet Performance - http://www.gctip.org
> Founder, PRIVACY Forum - http://www.vortex.com
> Member, ACM Committee on Computers and Public Policy
> Lauren's Blog: http://lauren.vortex.com
> Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenweinstein
>
> - - -
>
> On 01/14 17:19, Dave Farber wrote:
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> > > From: Ethan Ackerman <eackerma () u washington edu>
> > > Date: January 14, 2010 5:09:43 PM EST
> > > To: dave () farber net
> > > Subject: Re: [IP] Re: Stop the panic on air security - err, no,
> > > irradiate it
> > > Reply-To: eackerma () u washington edu
> >
> > > Greetings Dave,
> > > An anecdote IPers may find enlightening...
> > >
> > > As a result of the original radiation email I sent you I've  
> > > received a
> > > large number of intelligent off-list emails very similar to Gene
> > > Spafford's below.  These emails all emphasize just-how-small-a-risk
> > > the radiation exposure from a airport x-ray is, and how, say,  
> > > working
> > > by a brick building or flying for just 2 minutes exceeds this risk.
> > > One email even highlighted that it made more sense from a radiation
> > > avoidance perspective to build a layer of lead shielding onto the
> > > plane than to avoid a screening.
> > >
> > > Exactly - and yet that's just how far we're going to fight such a
> > > small a risk with this onerous, invasive screening system. If we  
> > > were
> > > truly worried about airline safety, there are millions of better  
> > > ways
> > > to save lives.  The radiation danger from [X-ray scans OR airline
> > > terrorism] is so so so so small that it is dwarfed by all the other
> > > daily risks of living.
> > >
> > > As a safety precaution, x-ray scans are just so far down on the
> > > lives-saved list that it actually makes more sense to build a lead
> > > airplane.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Thu, Jan 14, 2010 at 4:02 PM, David Farber <dave () farber net>  
> > > wrote:
> > > > Begin forwarded message:
> > > > From: Gene Spafford <spaf () purdue edu>
> > > > Date: January 14, 2010 3:14:33 PM EST
> > > > To: ip <ip () v2 listbox com>
> > > > Cc: David Farber <dave () farber net>
> > > > Subject: Re: [IP] re Stop the panic on air security - err, no,
> > > > irradiate it
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Here is a site about the radiation exposure.  Note that the  
> > > > machines
> > > > that are glass "elevators" don't use ioning radiation at all.
> > > > This matches what I have seen at other sites -- I get more  
> > > > radiation
> > > > from flying every year than any incidental exposure from screening.
>
> > > > http://newsletter.onespot.com/health/2009/12/30/a/555857956-what-is-the-radiation-exposure/
> > > >   (then follow the link for the blog post)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Archives
> >
> >
> >
> > -------------------------------------------
> > Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now
> > RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/
> > Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com



-------------------------------------------
Archives: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now
RSS Feed: https://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/
Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com