N-radiation safety watchdog says no to airport full-body scanners

The government plans to test the scanners with an 'altered calibration'.

The nuclear safety regulator has objected to the move to install full-body scanners at airports,saying X-rays passing through passengers bodies expose them to harmful radiation.

The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board recently sent its report to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security,which now plans to replace backscatter technology scanners with scanners that use millimetre wave technology,and do not emit any X-rays.

AERB was part of an inter-disciplinary committee set up to look into implications of installing the scanners,from privacy concerns to health risks.

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Before we install the (new) scanners,we will prepare a report based on feedback from at least 4,000 passengers who pass through them. Some 9-10 companies will demonstrate their products, a senior official said.

The government plans to test the scanners with an altered calibration. The scanners must be re-calibrated to detect weapons or explosives in the folds of garments like a sari,he said.

Sushila Karki: Nepal’s first woman CJ — and now potentially its first woman PM

World6 hr ago

Nepalese jurist Sushila Karki, known for her anti-corruption stance, is a strong contender for interim prime minister. Despite lacking political experience, she has gained support from Gen Z protesters. The recent protests were triggered by a social media ban, but issues of corruption, economy, and joblessness have been simmering. Karki could make history as Nepal's first female prime minister.

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