Laser radiation has an effect on the body. Laser radiation

Laser radiation is narrowly directed forced energy flows. It can be continuous, of one power, or pulsed, where the power periodically reaches a certain peak. Energy is generated using a quantum generator - a laser. The flow of energy consists of electromagnetic waves that propagate parallel to each other.

This creates a minimum light scattering angle and a certain precise directionality.

Scope of application of laser radiation

The properties of laser radiation allow it to be used in various spheres of human activity:
science - research, experiments, experiments, discoveries;
military defense industry and space navigation;
production and technical sphere;
local heat treatment - welding, cutting, engraving, soldering;
household use – laser sensors for barcode reading, CD readers, pointers;
laser spraying to increase the wear resistance of metal;
creation of holograms;
improvement of optical devices;

chemical industry - starting and analyzing reactions.

Application of laser in medicine

Laser radiation in medicine is a breakthrough in the treatment of patients requiring surgical intervention. Lasers are used to produce surgical instruments.

The undeniable advantages of surgical treatment with a laser scalpel are obvious. It allows you to make a bloodless soft tissue incision. This is ensured by the instantaneous adhesion of small vessels and capillaries. When using such an instrument, the surgeon fully sees the entire surgical field. The laser energy stream dissects at a certain distance, without contacting the internal organs and vessels.

The development of laser technologies has expanded the possibilities of its application. The properties of laser radiation to positively influence the condition of the skin were discovered. Therefore, it is actively used in cosmetology and dermatology.

Depending on its type, human skin absorbs and reacts to rays differently. Laser radiation devices can create the desired wavelength in each specific case.

Application:

epilation – destruction of the hair follicle and hair removal;
acne treatment;
removal of age spots and birthmarks;
skin polishing;
use for bacterial damage to the epidermis (disinfects, kills pathogenic microflora), laser radiation prevents the spread of infection.

Ophthalmology is the first industry to use laser radiation. Directions in the use of lasers in eye microsurgery:

laser coagulation – the use of thermal properties for the treatment of vascular diseases of the eye (damage to the vessels of the cornea, retina);
photodestruction – tissue dissection at the peak of laser power (secondary cataract and its dissection);
photoevaporation - prolonged exposure to heat, used for inflammatory processes of the optic nerve, for conjunctivitis;
photoablation - gradual removal of tissue, used to treat dystrophic changes in the cornea, eliminates its clouding, surgical treatment of glaucoma;
laser stimulation – has an anti-inflammatory, absorbable effect, improves trophism of the eye, is used to treat scleritis, exudation in the eye chamber, hemophthalmos.

Laser irradiation is used for skin cancer. The laser is most effective for removing melanoblastoma. Sometimes the method is used to treat stage 1-2 esophageal or rectal cancer. For deep tumors and metastases, the laser is not effective.

What danger does laser pose to humans?

The effect of laser radiation on the human body can be negative. Irradiation can be direct, diffuse and reflected. The negative impact is provided by the light and thermal properties of the rays. The degree of damage depends on several factors - the length of the electromagnetic wave, the location of the impact, the absorption capacity of the tissue.

The eyes are most susceptible to the effects of laser energy. The retina of the eye is very sensitive, so burns often occur. The consequences are partial loss of vision, irreversible blindness. The source of laser radiation is infrared visible light emitters.

Symptoms of laser damage to the iris, retina, cornea, lens:

pain and spasms in the eye;
swelling of the eyelids;
hemorrhages;
cataract.

Medium-intensity irradiation causes thermal burns to the skin. At the point of contact between the laser and the skin, the temperature rises sharply. Boiling and evaporation of intracellular and interstitial fluid occurs. The skin becomes red. Under pressure, tissue structures rupture. Swelling appears on the skin, and in some cases intradermal hemorrhages. Subsequently, necrotic (dead) areas appear at the burn site. In severe cases, charring of the skin occurs instantly.

A distinctive sign of a laser burn is the clear boundaries of the skin lesion, and blisters form in the epidermis, and not under it.

With diffuse skin lesions at the site of the lesion, it becomes insensitive, and erythema appears after a few days.

Infrared laser radiation can penetrate deep into tissues and affect internal organs. The characteristic of a deep burn is the alternation of healthy and damaged tissue. Initially, when exposed to rays, a person does not experience pain. The most vulnerable organ is the liver.

The impact of radiation on the body as a whole causes functional disorders of the central nervous system and cardiovascular activity.

Signs:

changes in blood pressure;
increased sweating;
unexplained general fatigue;
irritability.

Precautions and protection against laser radiation

People whose activities involve the use of quantum generators are most at risk of exposure.

In accordance with sanitary standards, laser radiation is divided into four hazard classes. For the human body, the danger is the second, third, fourth classes.

Technical methods of protection against laser radiation:

Correct layout of industrial premises, interior decoration must comply with safety regulations (laser beams should not be mirrored).
Appropriate placement of radiating installations.
Fencing the area of possible exposure.
Procedure and compliance with the rules of maintenance and operation of equipment.

Another laser protection is individual. It includes the following equipment: glasses against laser radiation, protective covers and screens, a set of protective clothing (technological gowns and gloves), lenses and prisms that reflect rays. All employees must regularly undergo preventive medical examinations.

Using a laser at home can also be hazardous to health. Improper use of light pointers and laser flashlights can cause irreparable harm to a person. Protection against laser radiation provides simple rules:

Do not direct the radiation source at glass or mirrors.
It is strictly forbidden to direct the laser into the eyes of yourself or another person.
Gadgets with laser radiation must be stored out of the reach of children.

The action of a laser, depending on the modification of the emitter, can be thermal, energetic, photochemical and mechanical. The greatest danger is posed by a laser with direct radiation, with high intensity, narrow and limited beam direction, and high radiation density.

Hazardous factors that contribute to exposure to radiation include high operating voltage in the network, air pollution with chemicals, intense noise, and X-ray radiation. Biological effects from laser radiation are divided into primary (local burn) and secondary (nonspecific changes as a response of the whole organism). It should be remembered that the thoughtless use of homemade lasers, light pointers, lamps, laser flashlights can cause irreparable harm to others.

The effect of laser radiation on the human body has not been fully studied at the moment, but many are confident in its negative impact on all living things. Laser radiation is generated according to the principle of light creation and involves the use of atoms, but with a different set of physical processes. It is for this reason that with laser radiation it is possible to trace the influence of an external electromagnetic field.

Scope of application

Laser radiation is a narrowly directed forced energy flow of continuous or pulsed type. In the first case, there is an energy flow of one power, and in the second, the power level periodically reaches certain peak values. The formation of such energy is helped by a quantum generator represented by a laser. The energy flows in this case are electromagnetic waves, which propagate only in parallel relative to each other. Thanks to this feature, a minimum angle of light dispersion and a certain precise direction are created.

Sources of laser radiation based on its properties are widely used in a variety of areas of human activity, including:
science - research and experiments, experiments and discoveries;
space navigation;
production sector;
technical field;
local heat treatment - welding and soldering, cutting and engraving;
household use in the form of laser barcode reading sensors, CD readers, and pointers;
laser spraying, which significantly increases the wear resistance of metals;
creation of modern holograms;
improvement of various optical devices;
chemical industry – analysis and launch of reactions.

The use of devices of this type in the field of modern medical technologies is especially important.

Laser in medicine

From the point of view of modern medicine, laser radiation is a unique and very timely breakthrough in the treatment of patients who need surgical intervention. Lasers are actively used in the production of high-quality surgical instruments.

The undeniable advantages of surgical treatment include the use of a high-precision laser scalpel, which allows bloodless incisions of soft tissues to be made. This result is ensured by the almost instantaneous fusion of capillaries and small vessels. While using the laser instrument, the surgeon is able to fully see the surgical field. The laser energy stream dissects the tissues at a certain distance, while there is no contact of the instrument with the vessels and internal organs.

An important priority in the use of modern surgical instruments is to ensure absolute maximum sterility. Thanks to the strict targeting of the rays, all operations occur with minimal trauma, while the standard rehabilitation period for patients undergoing surgery becomes much shorter and full working capacity returns much faster.

A distinctive feature of the use of a laser scalpel during surgery today is painlessness in the postoperative period. The very rapid development of modern laser technologies has contributed to a significant expansion of the possibilities of its application. Relatively recently, the properties of laser radiation to have a positive effect on the condition of the skin were discovered and scientifically proven, due to which devices of this type began to be actively used in dermatology and cosmetology.

Areas of medical application

Today medicine is far from the only, but very promising area of application of modern laser equipment:

epilation process with destruction of hair follicles and effective hair removal;
treatment of severe acne;
effective removal of birthmarks and age spots;
leather grinding;
therapy for bacterial damage to the epidermis with disinfection and destruction of pathogenic microflora;
preventing the spread of infections of various origins.

The very first industry in which laser equipment and its radiation began to be actively used was ophthalmology. Areas of eye microsurgery in which laser technology is widely used are presented:

laser coagulation in the form of the use of thermal properties in the treatment of vascular eye diseases accompanied by damage to the vessels of the retina and cornea;
photodestruction in the form of tissue dissection at the peak power of laser equipment during the treatment and dissection of secondary cataracts;
photoevaporation in the form of prolonged thermal exposure in the presence of inflammatory processes of the optic nerve, as well as conjunctivitis;
photoablation in the form of gradual removal of tissue in the treatment of dystrophic changes in the ocular cornea, elimination of its opacification, in the surgical treatment of glaucoma;
laser stimulation with anti-inflammatory and absorbable effects, significantly improving ocular trophism, as well as in the treatment of scleritis, exudation inside the ocular chamber and hemophthalmos.

Laser irradiation is widely used in the treatment of skin cancer. Modern laser equipment shows the greatest effectiveness in removing melanoblastoma. This method can also be used in the treatment of esophageal cancer or rectal tumors at stages 1-2. It should be noted that in conditions where the tumor is too deep and there are multiple metastases, the laser is practically not effective at all.

Laser Radiation Hazards

At the moment, the negative effects of laser radiation on living organisms have been relatively well studied. Irradiation can be diffuse, direct or reflected. The negative impact is caused by the ability of laser devices to emit light and heat fluxes. The degree of damage directly depends on several factors, including:

electromagnetic wavelength;
area where the negative impact is localized;
absorption capacity of tissues.

The eyes are most susceptible to the negative effects of laser energy. It is the retina of the eye that is extremely sensitive and can receive burns of varying severity.

The consequences of this influence are partial loss of vision by the patient, as well as complete and irreversible blindness. Sources of negative radiation are most often represented by various infrared visible light emitters.

Symptoms of laser damage to the retina, iris, lens and cornea:

pain and spasms in the eyes;
severe swelling of the eyelids;
hemorrhages of varying degrees;
clouding of the eye lens.

Moderate intensity irradiation can cause thermal burns to the skin. In this case, at the site of contact between the laser equipment and the skin, a sharp increase in temperature is noticeable, accompanied by boiling and evaporation of interstitial and intracellular fluid. In this case, the skin acquires a characteristic red coloration. Under the influence of pressure, tissue structures rupture and swelling appears, which can be supplemented by intradermal hemorrhages. Subsequently, necrotic areas are observed at the burn sites, and in the most severe cases, noticeable charring of the skin occurs.

Signs of negative impact

A distinctive sign of a laser burn is clear boundaries on the affected areas of the skin with blisters that form directly in the layers of the epidermis, and not under it. Scattered skin lesions are characterized by almost instantaneous loss of sensitivity, and erythema appears several days after exposure to radiation.

The main features are presented:

changes in blood pressure;
slow heartbeat;
increased sweating;
unexplained general fatigue;
excessive irritability.

A feature of infrared laser radiation is its penetration deep inside, through tissues, damaging internal organs. A characteristic feature of a deep burn is the alternation of healthy and damaged tissue. Initially, during radiation exposure, people do not experience any noticeable pain, and the most vulnerable organs are the liver. In general, the effect of laser radiation on the human body provokes functional disorders in the central nervous system and cardiovascular activity.

Protection from negative influences and precautions

The greatest risk of radiation exposure occurs among people whose activities are directly related to the use of quantum generators. According to the basic sanitary standards adopted today, classes 2, 3 and 4 of radiation are dangerous to humans.

Technical protective methods are presented:

competent planning of industrial premises;
correct interior finishing without mirror reflection;
appropriate placement of laser installations;
fencing areas of possible exposure;
compliance with the requirements for maintenance and operation of laser equipment.

Personal protection includes special glasses and protective clothing, safety screens and covers, as well as prisms and lenses to reflect rays. Employees of such enterprises should be regularly sent for preventive medical examinations.

In domestic conditions, you must be careful and be sure to adhere to certain operating rules:

do not direct radiation sources at reflective surfaces;
Do not direct laser light into your eyes;
Keep laser gadgets out of the reach of small children.

The most dangerous lasers for the human body are those with direct radiation, high intensity, narrow and limited beam direction, and too high radiation density.

The properties of laser radiation make it possible to use it in various areas of human life. In medicine and cosmetology, lasers are used to treat a large number of diseases and aesthetic defects.

Using a laser-type scalpel, the doctor creates bloodless incisions, which is ensured by instant soldering of capillaries and blood vessels. In addition, using such tools, a specialist has the opportunity to see the entire work area. The laser beam cuts the skin remotely, without direct contact with blood vessels and organs.

In this case, sterility is achieved. The high laser concentration makes it possible to perform surgical interventions with minimal trauma. Patients recover much faster after such operations, that is, their ability to work returns much faster. In addition, manipulations with a laser scalpel do not cause any discomfort after surgery.

Active technological development has significantly expanded the possibilities of using laser radiation. Scientists have discovered a positive effect on the condition of the skin. For this reason, lasers are often used today in dermatology and cosmetology.

The reaction and degree of absorption of rays by the skin depends on its type. Laser devices allow you to adjust the length of the hair for each individual situation. Application:

One of the very first industries where lasers began to be actively used was ophthalmology. Ocular microsurgery distinguishes the following areas in which this type of irradiation is used:

Among other things, the laser is also used for oncological pathologies of the skin. It demonstrates very good results in eliminating melanoblastoma. In some cases, laser technology is used to treat early stage gastrointestinal cancer. However, the laser is not effective in the presence of metastases and deep localization of the malignant tumor.

Danger to the body

The negative impact of laser radiation on the human body has long been proven. Irradiation can be reflected, diffuse and direct. The detrimental effect is due to the thermal and light properties of the laser. The intensity of the lesion is determined by the level of tissue absorption, wavelength and the area targeted.

The eyeballs may suffer more than other parts of the body from the laser. The cornea is extremely sensitive, so it easily gets burned. The consequences include a sharp decrease in visual function or absolute blindness. Radiation sources are usually infrared laser emitters. If the lens, cornea, retina or iris is damaged by a laser beam, the following symptoms may be observed:

spasms and pain in the eyeball;
clouding of the eye lens;
hemorrhages and swelling of the eyelids.

Human skin is also vulnerable. At the point of its contact with the laser beam, the temperature increases. Interstitial and intracellular fluids begin to quickly boil and evaporate. Redness appears on the skin. After some time, dead areas may appear on the burned area. With powerful exposure, the skin chars almost instantly. The most important sign of a laser burn is the strict contours of the lesion, and the bubbles form not under the epidermis, but in it.

An infrared laser can affect not only the skin, but also internal organs, as it penetrates tissue. A deep burn is characterized by a sequence of damaged and healthy tissue. At first, after the harmful effects, a person does not have any discomfort or pain. The liver is considered the most vulnerable internal organ.

In addition, the effect of laser on the human body causes disorders of the cardiovascular system and central nervous system (cardiovascular and central nervous systems, respectively). The victim may experience profuse sweating, slow heart rate, pressure surges and a feeling of irritability.

Protective and Precautionary Measures

The risk group includes people whose work involves the use of quantum generators. Sanitary standards divide the danger of laser radiation into four classes. All classes except the first can pose a danger to the human body. Technical protection options include:

competent arrangement of industrial premises and the correct choice of internal cladding (the laser should not be reflected from surfaces);
rational installation of emitter devices;
fencing the area that is exposed to irradiation;
compliance with the requirements for operation and maintenance of laser systems.

Other protective measures are individual. It involves the use of protective glasses, protective clothing, screens, casings, prisms and lenses.

Household use of lasers can also pose a danger to the human body. Failure to follow instructions can lead to very sad consequences. Protection in this case involves the following recommendations:

A laser can have a mechanical, photochemical, energetic or thermal effect. This depends on the type of emitter used. Direct laser radiation is considered the most dangerous, since it has maximum intensity. When thinking about whether a laser is harmful to health, you should remember that the irrational use of homemade laser devices, flashlights or light signals can cause harm not only to the owner, but also to others.

The effect of lasers on the body depends on the radiation parameters (power and energy of radiation per unit of irradiated surface, wavelength, pulse duration, pulse repetition rate, irradiation time, irradiated surface area), localization of the effect and on the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the irradiated objects.

Depending on the specifics of the technological process, working with laser equipment may be accompanied by exposure of personnel mainly to reflected and scattered radiation. Laser radiation energy in biological objects (tissue, organ) can undergo various transformations and cause organic changes in irradiated tissues (primary effects) and nonspecific changes of a functional nature (secondary effects).

The biological effects that occur when exposed to laser radiation on the body depend on the energy exposure in the pulse or energy illumination, radiation wavelength, pulse duration, pulse repetition frequency, exposure and area of the irradiated area, as well as on the biological and physicochemical characteristics of the irradiated tissues and organs.

Laser radiation can cause primary effects, which include organic changes that occur directly in the irradiated tissues, and secondary effects - nonspecific changes that occur in the body in response to irradiation.

The thermal effect of high-intensity pulsed lasers has specific features. When exposed to pulsed laser radiation, the structures in the irradiated tissues rapidly heat up. Moreover, if the radiation corresponds to the free generation mode, then during the pulse (duration within 1 ms) the thermal energy causes a thermal burn of tissue. Lasers operating in Q-switched mode (with a shortened pulse) emit energy in a very short time (pulse duration 1*10 -7 – 1*10 -12 s).

As a result of rapid heating of structures to high temperatures, a sharp increase in pressure occurs in the irradiated tissue elements, which leads to mechanical damage to the tissue. For example, at the moment of exposure to the eye or skin, the radiation pulse is subjectively felt as a pinpoint impact. With increasing energy in the radiation pulse, the shock wave increases.

Thus, laser radiation leads to a combined thermal and mechanical effect.

Effect of laser radiation on the organ of vision. The effect of laser radiation on the organ of vision largely depends on the wavelength and localization of the effect. The severity of morphological changes and the clinical picture of visual impairment can range from complete loss of vision (blindness) to instrumentally detected functional disorders.

Laser radiation from the visible and near-IR regions of the spectrum, when it enters the organ of vision, reaches the retina, and radiation from the ultraviolet and far-IR regions of the spectrum is absorbed by the conjunctiva, cornea, and lens.

The effect of laser radiation on the skin. With the use of high-power lasers and the expansion of their practical use, the danger of accidental damage not only to the organ of vision, but also to the skin and even internal organs has increased. The nature of damage to the skin or mucous membranes varies from mild hyperemia to varying degrees of burns, up to gross pathological changes such as necrosis.

There are 4 degrees of skin damage caused by laser radiation:

I degree – burns of the epidermis: erythema, desquamation of the epithelium;

II – burns of the dermis: blisters, destruction of the superficial layers of the dermis;

III - dermal burns: destruction of the dermis to deep layers;

IV - destruction of the entire thickness of the skin, subcutaneous tissue and underlying layers

The action of laser radiation, along with morphofunctional changes in tissue directly at the site of irradiation, causes various functional changes in the body. In particular, changes develop in the central nervous, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems, which can lead to health problems. The biological effect of laser radiation increases with repeated exposure and in combination with other factors in the working environment.

37. UV radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is electromagnetic radiation invisible to the eye, occupying an intermediate position in the electromagnetic spectrum between light and x-rays.

The biologically active part of UV radiation is divided into 3 parts: spectral region - A with a wavelength of 400 - 315 nm, region B with a wavelength of 315 - 280 nm and C - 280 - 200 nm. UV radiation of a shorter range (from 180 nm and below) is strongly absorbed by all materials and media, including air, and therefore can only occur under vacuum conditions.

UV rays have the ability to cause a photoelectric effect, exhibit photochemical activity (the development of photochemical reactions), cause luminescence and have significant biological activity. At the same time, UV rays of area A have a relatively weak biological effect and excite the fluorescence of organic compounds. The rays of area B have a strong erythemal and antirachitic effect, and the rays of area C actively act on tissue proteins and lipids, cause hemolysis and have a pronounced antirachitic effect.

The normalized value of artificial UV irradiation is the amount of erythemal irradiation, determined by the product of erythemal irradiation and the irradiation time. This value is similar to illumination and is determined by the density of the erythemal flux.

Erythemal flux (F er) - the power of erythemal radiation - is a value that characterizes the effectiveness of UV radiation in terms of its beneficial effects on humans and animals.

Industrial sources of UV radiation

The most common artificial sources of UV radiation in production are electric arcs, mercury-quartz burners, and autogenous flames. All sources of UV radiation belong to the so-called temperature emitters.

In production conditions, workers engaged in electric welding, autogenous metal cutting and welding, plasma cutting and welding, and flaw detection are exposed to UV irradiation; technical and medical personnel working with mercury-quartz lamps for photocopying, sterilization of water and products, personnel in physiotherapy rooms; workers engaged in smelting metals and minerals with a high melting point in electric, diabase, glass and other furnaces; workers engaged in the production of mercury rectifiers; insulator testers, etc. Agricultural, construction, road workers and other professional groups are exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the solar spectrum, especially in the autumn-summer period of the year.

Biological action

The biological effect of UV rays from sunlight is manifested primarily in their positive effect on the human body. UV irradiation is a vital factor. It is known that with a long-term lack of sunlight, disturbances in the physiological balance of the body occur, and a peculiar symptom complex called “light starvation” develops.

The most common consequences of a lack of sunlight are vitamin D deficiency, weakening of the body's protective immunobiological reactions, exacerbation of chronic diseases, and functional disorders of the nervous system.

Contingents experiencing “light starvation” of the body or “ultraviolet deficiency” include workers in mines and mines, people working in lightless and windowless workshops and in a number of other objects that do not have natural light, such as engine rooms, subways, etc. , as well as those working in the Far North.

UV irradiation with suberythemal and low erythemal doses has a beneficial stimulating effect on the body. There is an increase in the tone of the pituitary-adrenal and sympathoadrenal systems, the activity of mitochondrial and microsomal enzymes and the level of nonspecific immunity, and the secretion of a number of hormones increases. Normalization of blood pressure is observed, serum cholesterol levels decrease, capillary permeability decreases, phagocytic activity of leukocytes increases, and the content of sulfhydryl groups increases; all types of exchange are normalized.

It has been established that under the influence of UV radiation there is a more intensive removal of chemicals (manganese, mercury, lead) from the body and a decrease in their toxic effect. The body's resistance increases, the incidence of illness, in particular colds, decreases, resistance to cooling increases, fatigue decreases, and performance increases.

In order to prevent “ultraviolet deficiency”, it is used as solar radiation - indoor insolation, light-air baths, solariums, as well as UV irradiation from artificial sources.

Measures to prevent “ultraviolet deficiency” in our country are enshrined in sanitary legislation.

Industrial premises with constant presence of workers, in which there is no natural light or insufficient biological effect, should be equipped with artificial UV radiation installations (with erythema lamps) as required by sanitary standards. UV irradiation of workers can be carried out using general erythemal irradiation units located directly in the workshop, where workers receive the required dose of radiation during the work shift, or UV irradiation of workers is carried out in fotariums for 3 - 5 minutes using high levels of irradiation.

UV radiation from industrial sources, primarily electric welding arcs, can cause acute and chronic occupational injuries.

The visual analyzer is most susceptible to UV radiation.

Acute eye lesions, so-called electroophthalmia (photoophthalmia), are acute conjunctivitis or keratoconjunctivitis. The disease is preceded by a latent period, the duration of which is most often 12 hours. The disease manifests itself as a sensation of a foreign body or sand in the eyes, photophobia, lacrimation, and blepharospasm. Erythema of the skin of the face and eyelids is often detected. The disease lasts up to 2 - 3 days.

Preventive measures to prevent electroophthalmia are reduced to the use of light-protective glasses or shields during electric welding and other work.

Chronic lesions are associated with chronic conjunctivitis, blepharitis, and lens cataracts.

Skin lesions occur in the form of acute dermatitis with erythema, sometimes swelling, up to the formation of blisters. Along with the local reaction, general toxic phenomena with fever, chills, headaches, and dyspeptic symptoms may be observed. Subsequently, hyperpigmentation and peeling occur. A classic example of skin damage caused by UV radiation is sunburn.

Chronic changes in the skin caused by UV radiation are expressed in “aging” (solar elastosis), the development of keratosis, atrophy of the epidermis, and the possible development of malignant neoplasms.

To protect the skin from UV radiation, protective clothing, sun screens (canopies, etc.), and special covering creams are used.

Back in 1917, the scientist A. Einstein put forward the brilliant assumption that atoms are capable of emitting induced light waves. However, this assumption was confirmed only almost half a century later, when Soviet scientists N.G. Basov and A.M. Prokhorov began the creation of quantum generators.

From the first letters of the English name of this device, an abbreviation was made - laser, therefore, the light emitted by it is laser. Does the average person encounter a laser in everyday life?

Modernity makes it possible to everywhere observe the beautiful dancing light rays emanating from a laser.

They are actively used to create light shows, as well as in cosmetology, medicine and technology. This is why laser technologies are so actively used these days for variety shows and the production of all kinds of gadgets.

But what if laser light is harmful to humans? This is precisely the question we will raise today. But on the day of the beginning, you need to go back to your school years and remember about laser light quanta.

In nature, the source of light is atoms. A laser beam is no exception, but it is born as a result of slightly different material processes and provided that there is an external influence of the electromagnetic field. Based on this, we can say that laser light is a forced phenomenon, that is, stimulated.

Beams of laser light propagate almost parallel to each other, so they have a tiny scattering angle and are capable of intensely influencing the irradiated surface.

How, then, does a laser differ from the usual (also man-made) incandescent light bulb? Unlike a laser, a lamp has a scattering spectrum of almost 360 o, while the beam from a laser has a narrow directionality.

Due to the fact that quantum generators are firmly established in the life of modern man, scientists are seriously concerned about the question of whether there is a negative impact from such a “neighborhood.” In the course of many experiments, they were able to achieve great results and find out that the laser beam has special properties:

during operation of the laser installation, you can get negative consequences directly (from the device itself), from scattered light or reflected from other surfaces;
the degree of impact will depend on what tissue the laser affects, as well as on the parameters of its wave;
Energy absorbed by any tissue can have thermal, light or any other negative effect.

If the laser acts on biological tissue, then the sequence of damaging results looks something like this:

rapid rise in temperature and signs of burns;
interstitial and cellular fluid boils;
As a result of boiling, high-pressure steam is formed, which seeks a way out and explodes neighboring tissues.

If the radiation doses are small or medium, then you can get away with skin burns. But with strong irradiation, the skin takes on a swollen and dead appearance. And the internal organs receive severe injuries. The greatest danger is posed by direct and specularly reflected rays, which negatively affect the functioning of the most important organs and their systems.

The topic of the effect of laser on the visual organs deserves special attention.

IMPORTANT! Pulsed short flashes of laser can cause very severe damage to the retina, iris and lens of the eye.

There are 3 reasons for this:

A short laser pulse lasts 0.1 seconds and during this time the vision protection – the blink reflex – simply does not have time to work.
The cornea and lens are extremely sensitive organs that are easily damaged.
Since the eye itself is an entire optical system, it itself contributes to its own destruction when hit by a laser. It focuses the beam on the fundus and hits the retina. Here the beam hits the fragile blood vessels of this organ, causing them to become blocked. The absence of pain receptors makes it possible not to even feel that a certain area on the retina has already been affected until some objects are simply visible in the field of view.

Only after some time does swelling of the eyelids, pain in the eyes, convulsive contractions and hemorrhage on the retina begin. By the way, the cells of the latter do not regenerate.

IMPORTANT! Radiation levels that can damage vision are low. But high-intensity radiation is enough to damage the skin. Infrared lasers or any visible light source with a power greater than 5 mW are potentially dangerous.

Wonderful inventors around the globe, during their inventions of quantum generators, could not even imagine how popular their brainchildren would soon gain. However, such universal acceptance requires knowledge of which wavelength to use for a particular operation.

What affects the laser wavelength? Since a laser is a man-made device, the nature of its waves will be determined by the mechanical structure of the device generating the beam. Lasers can be solid-state or gas.

Miracle light can simultaneously be in the range from 30 to 180 microns and be part of the ultraviolet, visible (usually red) or infrared part of the spectrum.

But it is the wavelength that largely influences the nature of the impact of this light on the human body. So, red light is less sensitive to our eyes than green light. That is, our eyelid closes at the sight of a green beam of light, so it is less dangerous than the same red one.

Protection against laser radiation in production

In production where quantum generators are used, a huge number of people are directly or indirectly involved. For such employees, clear regulations have been developed regulating the degree of personal protection from radiation, because any laser installation poses a potential danger to certain organs of the body.

Manufacturers of such installations are required to indicate which of the 4 hazard classes this device belongs to. The greatest threat is from category 2, 3 and 4 lasers.

Public safety equipment at work includes protective screens and enclosures, surveillance cameras, LED indicators, alarms or barriers installed in areas with high radiation hazards.

Individual methods of protection include special sets of clothing and glasses coated with a laser beam.

IMPORTANT! A timely examination in a hospital and compliance with all protective measures prescribed at work are the best preventive methods of protection from waves.

In our everyday life, we observe the uncontrolled use of homemade laser devices, installations, laser pointers and lamps. To avoid unpleasant consequences, you should strictly follow the rules for their use:

only in places where there are no strangers can you “play” with lasers;
Light waves reflected from glass or other mirrored objects pose a greater danger than a direct beam;
even the most “harmless” beam with low intensity can lead to tragic consequences if it falls within the sight of a driver, pilot or athlete;
laser devices should be protected from use by children and adolescents;
when the clouds are low, beams of light can be directed into the sky to avoid light entering air transport;
It is strictly forbidden to look through the lens at the light source;
When wearing safety glasses, it is important to control the degree of their protection from rays of different lengths.

Modern quantum generators and laser devices found in everyday life are a real threat to their owners and those around them. Only strict adherence to all precautions will help protect yourself or your loved ones. Only then can you enjoy a truly mesmerizing spectacle.