The Development of Laser Safety Criteria—Biological Considerations

摘要: Concurrent with the development of laser technology, understanding potential hazards associated use lasers has been expanding. A far more elaborate and specific program hazard control is now possible experience gained in past few years. Initially, only commonsense safety guidelines could be developed based upon a qualitative problem. Tentative safe exposure levels have resulted from quantitative information derived two sources: (1) thresholds injury bioeffects studies, (2) measurements primary reflected beam parameters encountered field laboratory evaluations hundreds operations. An aspects problem essential, for many applicable to one type wrongly applied completely different characteristics wavelength power output, causing biological effects. This understandable, considering that output powers today range microwatts some continuous-wave (CW) gigawatts pulsed lasers. Verhoeff Bell (1916), writing at time when high-intensity man-made sources radiant energy was increasing, stated very well need relationships incident “These relations generally left quite out reckoning discussing subject, result leading vague unwarranted conclusions as irrelevant if should condemn steam heating dangerous because can burn his finger radiator.” The objective this chapter provide reader an hazards.