Laser-Generated Airborne Contaminants

There is growing concern about laser-generated airborne contaminants (LGAC) that may occur when lasers impact a surface and change or vaporize the material on the surface. The production of nanoparticles from laser interactions has been reported in the occupational safety literature. The term "nanoparticle" generally refers to particles <100 nanometers in size.

Laser-generated air contaminants are produced when Class 3B or 4 laser beams interact with matter. The type of contaminant varies, depending upon the target material, cover gas, and beam irradiance. The target material may be responsible for releasing chemicals that are carcinogenic, toxic, or noxious. These contaminants can include gaseous toxic compounds, bio-aerosols, dead and live cellular material, and viruses.

The microscopic size of nanoparticles means that they can travel easily to the deepest parts of the lung, and may migrate to other parts of the body as well. It is difficult to assess worker exposure and subsequent health effects from exposure to nanoparticles.

At certain concentrations, some of the LGAC may cause ocular and upper respiratory tract irritation, have unpleasant odors, and create visual problems for the user, and have been shown to have mutagenic and carcinogenic potential. It has been shown that laser smoke production is a function of increased irradiance levels.

The LSO must ensure that the industrial hygiene aspects of LEV exposure are addressed and that appropriate control measures are in place. The LSO should refer to any Safety Data Sheets (SDS) from the manufacturer of the laser, laser system, or target material. In addition, the LSO should be familiar with OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z on chemical substance threshold limits.

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