Expert questions TSA's use of X-rays on airline passengers

At a House oversight committee hearing Wednesday, a national expert in radiation risks questioned why the Transportation Security Administration would use full-body X-ray scanners on passengers when the agency has another type of machine that doesn't expose people to any ionizing radiation. "X-rays are a carcinogen," said David Brenner, director of Columbia University's Center for Radiological Research. About half of the nearly 500 full-body scanners TSA has installed so far at airports use X-rays; the others use millimeter waves, a technology that Brenner said has no known health risks. TSA officials testified that both technologies are safe. Meanwhile, records show that TSA knew about problems in its radiation inspection program on Dec. 15, but waited nearly three months before releasing information publicly last Friday. Read the full USA TODAY story: TSA defends safety of scanners