TECHNOLOGY AND THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT
03/10/2010
FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg reassured lawmakers Wednesday that radiation from the new full-body security scanners being installed at U.S. airports is not a cause for concern.
Testifying before the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, Hamburg responded to concerns raised by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., about radiation from medical imaging devices and the airport scanners. Hamburg said the FDA cares deeply about the level of exposure from CAT scans and similar devices and is working with companies that manufacture them to make them less prone to error.
On the airport scans, she said the level of radiation "is minimal," less than that from medical devices. Hamburg said she would like to move to a system where consumers can track accumulated exposure from X-rays and other equipment over the years.
The Transportation Security Administration plans to have 200 of the full-body scanners at U.S. airports by year's end and 900 by 2014.
Webinars provide a unique way for federal managers to access first-hand the latest information on government best practices and industry solutions. Click here to see archived Webinars.
Upcoming Events
JULY 29
The Changing Faces of Cybersecurity in Government
By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although Nextgov does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.
comments powered by Disqus