Travelers wary of full body scans at airports due to lack of information by authorities

The documents have been requested by the Electronic Privacy Information Center under the Freedom of Information Act.

The 51 pages of documents show that travelers were often not fully informed about the full body scans or how the procedure goes. Some passengers voiced their concerns about insufficient instructions or signage regarding the machines, while others complained about the lack of information on a pat down being available as an alternative to the scan. Travelers also worried about invasion of privacy, feeling humiliated, or health implications for pregnant women and children being subjected to radiation by being scanned.

The complaints counter the TSA's claims about the disclosure policies related to the use of the machines and of the general level of concern related to their use, said Ginger McCall, staff counsel at EPIC, PC World writes. "The TSA has been reassuring people that travelers will be made aware of what these machines are and of the alternatives that are available," McCall said. However, the complaints tell of less backing for the technology than the TSA has let on, she said.

An article on FastCompany.com, is trying to assure travelers of the safe use of the full body scanners and educate the public on the technology behind.

"Most full-body scans essentially use electromagnetic radiations which are capable of penetrating through clothing but which bounce off flesh. Image sensors then create a picture of your body as if it were unclothed--leaving few places left to conceal weapons or contraband items. The scans are an augmented layer of security, designed to accompany metal detectors and pat-downs, alongside x-raying of your hand luggage. And they're being promoted all around the world as the next great thing in terrorism prevention, partly in the wake of the underwear bomber."

The article says there are apparently no health implications of being exposed to the radiation omitted by the scanner: "Being exposed to the low-intensity waves from a millimeter-wave scanner is really not much different to sitting at home being bathed in your broadband's Wi-fi signals and cell phone waves. There's controversy about these radiations in terms of long term exposure, sure, but the overwhelming scientific evidence is that they're safe, and that safety umbrella should also extend over millimeter wave scanners. There is some fuss about the potential for the waves in question to damage DNA, which may have future health implications, but for now the majority of evidence weighs on the "safe" side.