Eric J (Viking)
17th November 2011, 13:11
Another one bites the dust!!
Airport scanners that see passengers naked are banned over fears they cause cancer
Radiation experts first warned of the danger 13 years ago
Millions of air passengers forced to pass through scanners worldwide
16 of the machines in use at Manchester Airport, and 250 in the U.S.
Europe has banned controversial airport 'strip-search' scanners over fears the X-ray technology could cause cancer.
Experts have found the scanners emit low doses of radiation and the EU has told member states not to install them until the potential risks are assessed. They will be completely banned in April if experts rule they are dangerous.
Millions of people worldwide are believed to have passed through the security scanners. In the UK passengers are required to do so if asked.
Manchester Airport, which has 16 of the £80,000 machines, has been told it can continue using them for another year. However, no new machines will be allowed to 'protect citizens' health and safety'.
The body scanners were introduced in a security crackdown after incidents such as the attempted 'underwear bomb' terror plot in 2009.
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They were used at Heathrow but scrapped amid complaints about invasion of privacy. They have also been tested in Germany, France, Italy, Finland and Holland.
Research suggests that because of the large number of scanners in the U.S. up to 100 passengers a year could get cancer.
Britain, which argues the scans are a 'proportionate response to a very real terrorist threat', could be hit with a fine from the European courts if it ignores the ban.
The Health Protection Agency said: 'The radiation dose from an examination of two or three scans is less than that received from two minutes flying at cruising altitude.'
At Manchester passengers selected for scanning are banned from flying if they refuse to pass through the device.
The airport says around 10 passengers have been unable to board their flight after refusing the scan.
A spokesperson for the airport said: 'Extensive tests by the UK Health Protection Agency and the US health authorities have already confirmed that back scatter body scanners pose a negligible risk to human health.
'It is irresponsible to suggest that because Europe has yet to complete its own health study, our passengers should be concerned.
'European legislation issued this week has approved millimetre wave, another form of body scanner technology, for permanent use at airports.
'While its study is underway, an extension of the trial of back scatter body scanners at Manchester Airport has been approved by the European Commission until November 2012.
'Given that all of the relevant authorities support the use of back scatter body scanners, the trial will continue.'
The EU has ruled only security scanners which do not use X-ray technology are approved for use.
The use is only allowed as long as the scanners do not store, retain, copy, print or retrieve images.
Vice-President Siim Kallas, the Commissioner responsible for transport, defended the ban.
He said: 'Security scanners are not a panacea but they do offer a real possibility to reinforce passenger security.
'Security scanners are a valuable alternative to existing screening methods and are very efficient in detecting both metallic and non-metallic objects.
'It is still for each member state or airport to decide whether or not to deploy security scanners, but these new rules ensure that where this new technology is used it will be covered by EU wide standards on detection capability as well as strict safeguards to protect health and fundamental rights.
'Experience to date shows that passengers and staff generally see security scanners as a convenient method of screening.'
The first X-ray body scanner was developed in 1992 by Steven W. Smith. He sold the technology and rights to Rapiscan Systems, who now manufacture and distribute the device.
Fears about the health risks were raised in the U.S. as far back as 1998 when the machine known as the Secure 1000 was evaluated by a panel of radiation safety experts brought together by the Food and Drug Administration.
They all expressed concerns about the machine because it violated a longstanding principle that humans should not be X-rayed unless there is a medical purpose.
The machine’s inventor told panellists that machine would most probably not be widely used for many years to come.
Now there are 250 in airports across the U.S.with millions of airline passengers walking through them.
Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam was the first airport to implement the scanners in 2007, shortly after the technology was rolled out across the world.
In the U.S. the Transportation Security Administration body scanners sparked a heated debate over security concerns versus travellers' privacy when they were first brought in autumn 2010. The machines have also been installed in some courtrooms.
In response, New Jersey's legislature issued a resolution urging Congress to review the program.
Study group Electronic Privacy Information Center then filed a lawsuit to suspend the use of scanners at U.S. airports pending an independent review.
In February 2011, a trial of new 'non-intrusive' body scanners started at Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C. before they were rolled out permanently in July.
New York's Newark Liberty International airport followed in September, where more than 8 million passengers boarded planes last year.
Also in September, BAA, which owns London's Heathrow airport, said it will trial the new 'privacy-friendly' scanner.
The Italian government had planned to install full body scanners at all airports and train stations but removed them from airports, calling them 'slow and ineffective'.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2062608/EU-bans-naked-airport-scanners-fears-cause-cancer.html#ixzz1dy48aACl
Airport scanners that see passengers naked are banned over fears they cause cancer
Radiation experts first warned of the danger 13 years ago
Millions of air passengers forced to pass through scanners worldwide
16 of the machines in use at Manchester Airport, and 250 in the U.S.
Europe has banned controversial airport 'strip-search' scanners over fears the X-ray technology could cause cancer.
Experts have found the scanners emit low doses of radiation and the EU has told member states not to install them until the potential risks are assessed. They will be completely banned in April if experts rule they are dangerous.
Millions of people worldwide are believed to have passed through the security scanners. In the UK passengers are required to do so if asked.
Manchester Airport, which has 16 of the £80,000 machines, has been told it can continue using them for another year. However, no new machines will be allowed to 'protect citizens' health and safety'.
The body scanners were introduced in a security crackdown after incidents such as the attempted 'underwear bomb' terror plot in 2009.
More...
British holidaymakers stranded abroad after airline who demanded £20k whip-round for fuel suspends flights
Clegg clashes with Cameron as Deputy PM says this is not the time to claw back power from the EU
They were used at Heathrow but scrapped amid complaints about invasion of privacy. They have also been tested in Germany, France, Italy, Finland and Holland.
Research suggests that because of the large number of scanners in the U.S. up to 100 passengers a year could get cancer.
Britain, which argues the scans are a 'proportionate response to a very real terrorist threat', could be hit with a fine from the European courts if it ignores the ban.
The Health Protection Agency said: 'The radiation dose from an examination of two or three scans is less than that received from two minutes flying at cruising altitude.'
At Manchester passengers selected for scanning are banned from flying if they refuse to pass through the device.
The airport says around 10 passengers have been unable to board their flight after refusing the scan.
A spokesperson for the airport said: 'Extensive tests by the UK Health Protection Agency and the US health authorities have already confirmed that back scatter body scanners pose a negligible risk to human health.
'It is irresponsible to suggest that because Europe has yet to complete its own health study, our passengers should be concerned.
'European legislation issued this week has approved millimetre wave, another form of body scanner technology, for permanent use at airports.
'While its study is underway, an extension of the trial of back scatter body scanners at Manchester Airport has been approved by the European Commission until November 2012.
'Given that all of the relevant authorities support the use of back scatter body scanners, the trial will continue.'
The EU has ruled only security scanners which do not use X-ray technology are approved for use.
The use is only allowed as long as the scanners do not store, retain, copy, print or retrieve images.
Vice-President Siim Kallas, the Commissioner responsible for transport, defended the ban.
He said: 'Security scanners are not a panacea but they do offer a real possibility to reinforce passenger security.
'Security scanners are a valuable alternative to existing screening methods and are very efficient in detecting both metallic and non-metallic objects.
'It is still for each member state or airport to decide whether or not to deploy security scanners, but these new rules ensure that where this new technology is used it will be covered by EU wide standards on detection capability as well as strict safeguards to protect health and fundamental rights.
'Experience to date shows that passengers and staff generally see security scanners as a convenient method of screening.'
The first X-ray body scanner was developed in 1992 by Steven W. Smith. He sold the technology and rights to Rapiscan Systems, who now manufacture and distribute the device.
Fears about the health risks were raised in the U.S. as far back as 1998 when the machine known as the Secure 1000 was evaluated by a panel of radiation safety experts brought together by the Food and Drug Administration.
They all expressed concerns about the machine because it violated a longstanding principle that humans should not be X-rayed unless there is a medical purpose.
The machine’s inventor told panellists that machine would most probably not be widely used for many years to come.
Now there are 250 in airports across the U.S.with millions of airline passengers walking through them.
Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam was the first airport to implement the scanners in 2007, shortly after the technology was rolled out across the world.
In the U.S. the Transportation Security Administration body scanners sparked a heated debate over security concerns versus travellers' privacy when they were first brought in autumn 2010. The machines have also been installed in some courtrooms.
In response, New Jersey's legislature issued a resolution urging Congress to review the program.
Study group Electronic Privacy Information Center then filed a lawsuit to suspend the use of scanners at U.S. airports pending an independent review.
In February 2011, a trial of new 'non-intrusive' body scanners started at Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C. before they were rolled out permanently in July.
New York's Newark Liberty International airport followed in September, where more than 8 million passengers boarded planes last year.
Also in September, BAA, which owns London's Heathrow airport, said it will trial the new 'privacy-friendly' scanner.
The Italian government had planned to install full body scanners at all airports and train stations but removed them from airports, calling them 'slow and ineffective'.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2062608/EU-bans-naked-airport-scanners-fears-cause-cancer.html#ixzz1dy48aACl