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Red Laser Safety

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Lasers are becoming more common.

Lasers are becoming more common. They are used for pointers by high-tech speakers, they are on supermarket checkouts, on inventory control reader guns and on some computer mice. There has always been a concern about how dangerous lasers are.

  1. Red Lasers

    • Red Lasers (590 to 780 nanometers) are the least dangerous lasers. The green and blue lasers are much more dangerous. That is why you always see red lasers and do not see other colors unless you have access to a research laboratory. Only red lasers are legal for commercial use in the USA.

    Safety Regulations

    • The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) restricts commercial use of lasers to red lasers with power levels of less than 5 milliwatts. The light from a 5 mW laser is much more dangerous than the light from a 60 watt bulb because the laser light is concentrated and focused. Lasers should never be aimed directly into the eyes, into mirrors or used with microscopes or telescopes.

    Flash Blindness

    • Laser pointers--even the legal red ones with less than 5 mW--have been banned from sporting events because some fans shine them into the the eyes of members of the opposing team at key moments. The laser light can overwhelm the eye and produce a temporarily condition known as "flash blindness."

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  • Photo Credit fond zulux laser image by Strikker from Fotolia.com

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