RE: Calling all laser experts

["Dr. F. Abu-Jarad" <abujarad@kfupm.edu.sa>]

Please send me a reprint
best regards

*********** REPLY PARTITION ***********

On 10/29/98, at 8:01 AM, Leonowich, John A wrote: 

>You are absolutely correct that these Class 3a lasers are potentially an ocular
>hazards, and are not meant for use by children.
>
>The seminal paper on the safety hazards of these lasers has just been published
>in the Journal of Laser Applications, 10, 4 (August 1998) by Rockwell, Ertle,
>and Moss entitled "Safety Recommendations for laser pointers".
>
>I have a limited number of reprints - first come first served.
>
>Regards
>
>John A Leonowich
>Battelle PNNL
>
>	-----Original Message-----
>	From:	elizabeth_algutifan@wssrap-host.wssrap.com
>[SMTP:elizabeth_algutifan@wssrap-host.wssrap.com]
>	Sent:	Thursday, October 29, 1998 5:44 AM
>	To:	Multiple recipients of list
>	Subject:	Calling all laser experts
>
>	Hey Radsafers,
>
>	I took my kids to the mall here in St. Charles last night.  My older son
>had
>	been begging me for a week to get him a "cool laser" to use on Halloween
>night
>	("All the other kids have one, Mom," he pleaded).  The first gift shop
>we came
>	to had some key chains hanging near the cash register.  My son
>immediately
>	recognized them as laser key chains, so I picked one up and looked at
>it.  It
>	had a warning label that said it was a Class IIIa, red laser in the
>660-680 nm
>	wavelength range.  It said "Keep out reach of children" (not my typo; an
>import
>	I guess) and "Do not point directly in the eyes" (well, yeah, that makes
>sense!)
>	 It was selling for $14.99.  I did not buy it for him (because I know
>someone
>	will ask).  Of course, I know that these key chains are becoming very
>popular
>	among school children, as are laser pointers and other types of laser
>devices
>	that are sold over the counter in some retail stores.  Our local school
>district
>	has just made a rule forbidding children to bring any type of laser
>devices to
>	school under any circumstances.  A child at my kids' school was just
>suspended
>	for bringing a laser pointer to class (a third grader).
>
>	Now, my question is, isn't a Class IIIa laser a pretty severe ocular
>hazard? And
>	what can we as health physicists do about it?  I'm no expert in this
>field, but
>	the bits and pieces I've read from studying for the CHP exam indicate to
>me that
>	it's an immediate ocular hazard if intrabeam viewing occurs.  I'd like
>others'
>	thoughts on this issue; I was so upset last night about these things
>being in
>	plain view in retail stores (and at a child's eye level) that I was
>thinking
>	about calling up the FDA.  This seems to be a significant acute
>radiation issue
>	to me, that you folks will be interested in.  I hope I'm not
>overreacting, and I
>	think I am not.  Thanks for the help and advice.
>
>	Elizabeth Algutifan,
>	Environmental Health Physicist
>	WSSRAP
>	St. Charles, MO
>	Elizabeth_Algutifan@wssrap-host.wssrap.com
>
>	************************************************************************
>	The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
>	information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html
>************************************************************************
>The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
>information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html
>
************************************************************************
The RADSAFE Frequently Asked Questions list, archives and subscription
information can be accessed at http://www.ehs.uiuc.edu/~rad/radsafe.html