Current Event Review 4 - Article Example

Current Event Review Europe Bans Airport Body Scanners For "Health and Safety" Concerns The article “Europe Bans Airport Body Scanners For "Health and Safety" Concerns” by DiSalvo (2011) published in the Forbes, reports about the banning of X-ray body scanners in each and every European airport. This has been enforced by the Commission of European Union. Studies have revealed that X-ray body scanners which employ “backscatter” ionized emission technology are lethal enough to spoil DNA and possibly result in cancer, thereby causing a gross violation of Business Ethics with reference to health and safety.

As an alternative, European airports will make use of less harmful millimeter-wave scanners. I believe this is a very encouraging measure taken by the European Union. This is because in recent years health threats caused by technology have been mostly sidelined with greater importance given to security. On the other hand, TSA of the United States has tried to offset the alarm rung by the EU decision through biased statistics which demonstrate the improved security resulting from the use of X-ray body scanners.

A lately released ProPublica document highlights the hazards of X-ray body scanners stating that up to hundred Americans may possibly fall prey to cancer because of these machines. However, FDA was quick to come up with contrary evidence that cancer risk exists in just 1 among 400 million, thus, playing in the hands of TSA and overlooking the health risks. In my opinion, TSA is not giving due respect to ethics, health and safety of the people. This is because despite of the ruling of EU and reports by ProPublica, it has planned to install further X-ray body scanners in coming times.

This is a violation of the Business ethics owing to the fact that the health and the safety of the consumers is the responsibility of the organizations. The installation of these scanners despite of the presentation of the risks of these X ray scanners explains the fact that the health and safety of the people is being compromised. I believe that security is of utmost importance and proper security measures are essential but this should not put the health of people at stake. Instead, safer measures should be opted for so that the purpose of security is fulfilled and at the same time the health of the individuals is not risked.

ReferencesDiSalvo, D. (2011, November 15). “Europe Bans Airport Body Scanners For "Health and Safety" Concerns.” Forbes. Retrieved from: http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2011/11/15/europe-bans-airport-body-scanners-over-health-and-safety-concerns/