Can we talk about airport body scanners?

[NaturalMamma]

Over a year ago bodyscanners made their appearance at our local airport. They were saying you had the choice of whether to go through that or a metal detector. I won't go through them. I don't trust the technology and they have not been proven safe. I didn't think much of it b/c I didn't think they would be mandatory. Now I'm not so sure we're not headed in that direction.
Our Dept of Homeland Security wants them in every airport. We flew out of the country recently and when we were returning home, our layover was in Amsterdam. They had them right at the gate and the metal detector was roped off (I'm guessing they're going to get rid of those eventually). Everyone was going through the bodyscanners. DH and I told them we wouldn't have our bodies scanned and DH said he didn't trust the new technology. They let all of us have a pat down. I wasn't sure of our rights so I'm really glad there wasn't a huge fuss over it and they let us decline the scanners. Ironically we noticed that virtually everyone who was scanned had something detected and had to be patted down anyway!

I haven't done enough research to be educated about them, but I will be doing that. We have relatives out of the country so we have to fly.

I'm interested to know what you all have learned about the scanners and whether you will decline having your body and your children's bodies scanned.

eta: we also noticed that none of the personnel (airplane and airport) who came through the gate security went through the body scanner. They were pat down. If it's supposed to be so safe (as they claim) and without risk, then why wouldn't they simply go through each and everytime?

[NaturalMamma]

According to the TSA website, the scanners are optional and you can request a pat-down. However, I would imagine that not every airport would be accommodating. If you're in a foreign airport, it may be hard to preserve this option. I would copy the web page and take it with me next time.

http://www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/ait/faqs.shtm

Let's hope that, in the future, traveler's won't be forced to be imaged.

[Otto]

Originally Posted by NaturalMamma

I won't go through them. I don't trust the technology and they have not been proven safe.

Rats, I had a reply with worked-out numbers, but I was auto-logged-out while composing it and now it's gone. Let me try to recreate from memory: The backscatter scanners have a quoted ionizing dose of 0.05 microsieverts per scan, versus 3-5 microsieverts per hour in the plane at altitude. The millimeter-wave scanners generate an RF power density of about 15 microwatts per square centimeter at 2 feet, per (10 inch) antenna, and the beam moves. The latter is in fact about 1/7000 what a cell phone can deliver, but the phone is generally kept stationary.

The only obvious concern, unless one is worried about microwave ovens (max. leakage ~3 times the power density at 2 feet) and so forth, would seem to be some sort of backscatter machine deliberately modified to defeat its safety interlocks, viz., foul play.