'Blogger Bob' Says Misinformation Included In News Stories

A Monday story in the Los Angeles Times claims news has "leaked" that the Transportation Security Administration will be conducting new tests to determine whether TSA screeners are being exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. The article has elicited a response on the TSA's official blog.

The LA Time story begins, "After years of rebuffing health concerns over airport scanners, the Transportation Security Administration plans to conduct new tests on the potential radiation exposure from the machines at more than 100 airports nationwide...News of the test leaked out after the TSA issued a request last month to government vendors to provide wearable, personal dosimeters, devices that measure exposure to radiation."

One of TSA's official bloggers, identified as Bob Burns, writes that the story "missed the mark and you may have seen a few additional inaccurate stories in the news claiming that TSA was buying equipment to test for radiation exposure. Truth is, we continuously test all of the technology we use and post the results to our website for all to see...

"TSA routinely monitors radiation levels to ensure the safety of both passengers and our workforce. We've never found any radiation concerns and the safety reports can be accessed publicly at TSA.gov...Based on all of our previous testing, as well as monitoring from independent sources, we’re confident that all of our equipment meets national safety standards, and is safe for all passengers and our workforce."

FMI: LA Times story ; TSA Blog