SECTION 1. STUDY OF HEALTH EFFECTS OF BACKSCATTER 
X-RAY MACHINES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary for Science 
and Technology in the Department of Homeland Security 
shall provide for the conduct of an independent study of 
the effects on human health caused by the use of 
backscatter x-ray machines at airline checkpoints operated 
by the Transportation Security Administration. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDY.— 
(1) CONDUCT.—The study required under sub-
section (a) shall be— 
(A) initiated not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act; 
(B) conducted by an independent labora-
tory selected by the Under Secretary, in con-
sultation with the National Science Foundation, 
from among laboratories with expertise in the 
conduct of similar studies; and 
(C) to the maximum extent practicable, 
consistent with standard evaluations of radio-
logical medical equipment. 
(2) TESTING EQUIPMENT.—In conducting the 
study, the laboratory shall, to the maximum extent 
practicable— 
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(A) use calibration testing equipment de-
veloped by the laboratory for purposes of study; 
and 
(B) use commercially available calibration 
testing equipment as a control. 
(3) ELEMENTS.—In conducting the study, the 
laboratory shall, to the maximum extent practicable 
and consistent with recognized protocols for inde-
pendent scientific testing— 
(A) dismantle and evaluate one or more 
backscatter x-ray machines used at airline 
checkpoints operated by the Transportation Se-
curity Administration in order to determine— 
(i) the placement of testing equipment 
so that radiation emission readings during 
the testing of such machines are as accu-
rate as possible; and 
(ii) how best to measure the dose 
emitted per scan; 
(B) determine the failure rates and effects 
of use of such machines; 
(C) include the use of alternative testing 
methods in the determination of levels of radi-
ation exposure (such as an examination of en-
zyme levels after x-ray exposure to determine if 
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there is a biological response to cellular damage 
caused by such an exposure); 
(D) assess the fail-safe mechanisms of 
such machines in order to determine the opti-
mal operating efficacy of such machines; 
(E) ensure that any tests performed are 
replicable; 
(F) obtain peer review of any tests per-
formed; and 
(G) meet such other requirements as the 
Under Secretary shall specify for purposes of 
the study. 
(4) REPORT.— 
(A) EVALUATION.—The Under Secretary 
shall provide for an independent panel, in con-
sultation with the National Science Foundation, 
with expertise in conducting similar evaluations, 
to evaluate the data collected under the study 
to assess the health risks posed by backscatter 
x-ray machines to individuals and groups of 
people screened or affected by such machines, 
including— 
(i) frequent air travelers; 
(ii) employees of the Transportation 
Security Administration; 
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(iii) flight crews; 
(iv) other individuals who work at an 
airport; and 
(v) individuals with greater sensitivity 
to radiation, such as children, pregnant 
women, the elderly, and cancer patients. 
(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In conducting the 
evaluation under subparagraph (A), the panel 
shall— 
(i) conduct a literature review of rel-
evant clinical and academic literature; and 
(ii) consider the risk of backscatter x- 
ray technology from a public health per-
spective in addition to the individual risk 
to each airline passenger. 
(C) REPORTS.— 
(i) PROGRESS
REPORTS.—Not later 
than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and periodically there-
after until the final report is submitted 
pursuant to clause (ii), the Under Sec-
retary shall submit a report to Congress 
that contains the preliminary findings of 
the study conducted under this subsection. 
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(ii) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 
90 days after the date on which the panel 
completes the evaluation required under 
this paragraph, the Under Secretary shall 
submit a report to Congress that contains 
the result of the study and evaluation con-
ducted under this subsection. 
SEC. 
2. 
SIGNAGE 
REQUIREMENT 
RELATING 
TO 
BACKSCATTER X-RAY MACHINES. 
The Administrator of the Transportation Security 
Administration shall ensure that large, easily readable 
signs or equivalent electronic displays are placed at the 
front of airline passenger check point queues where 
backscatter advanced imaging technology machines are 
used for screening to inform airline passengers, particu-
larly passengers who may be sensitive to radiation expo-
sure, that they may request to undergo alternative screen-
ing procedures instead of passing through a backscatter 
x-ray machine. 
Æ 
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