TSA orders 're-tests' of radiation levels on airport body scanners

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TSA orders 're-tests' of radiation levels on airport body scannersBy Mike M. Ahlers, CNNMarch 12, 2011 11:13 a.m. EST
TSA found problems with more than a quarter of the reports from its radiation scanners, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said.STORY HIGHLIGHTS
The TSA characterizes problems as "record-keeping errors"
A senator says the TSA found problems with a quarter of reports reviewed
A House subcommittee will hold a hearing on TSA oversight of the scanners next week
Washington (CNN) -- The Transportation Security Administration on Friday ordered re-testing of all radiation-emitting full-body scanners after an internal review showed calculation errors, missing data and other discrepancies on paperwork by contractors who routinely check the machines' radiation levels.

As recently as Wednesday, the agency vouched for the safety of the machines, with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano telling a Senate committee that independent studies concluded the machines are "more than safe."

"The amount of radiation is approximately (the same as that received) as two minutes in the air," Napolitano said.

The TSA reiterated that position Friday, characterizing problems as "record-keeping errors."

But Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said the TSA found problems with more than one-quarter of the reports it reviewed, "including gross errors about radiation emissions."

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/11/tsa.body.scanners/index.html?hpt=Sbin