Blue lasers can cause cancer?

[BlueToast]

This is probably one of the stupidest newbiest questions, but do or can blue lasers cause cancer? Somehow I read (or misread) somewhere some time ago along these lines in regards to "touching" the blue laser with hands. How does this apply to a 1W? : o

EDIT: Just exactly how awfully dangerous is a 1W 445nm laser?

 

[Trevor]

It's approaching (or is) ionizing radiation. The simple answer: yes, in large enough amounts.

Personally, I'd be more concerned for my eyes.

-Trevor

 

[anselm]

This is probably one of the stupidest newbiest questions,

There are no stupid questions regarding laser safety, only stupid answers.

EDIT: Just exactly how awfully dangerous is a 1W 445nm laser?

It's pretty dangerous alright. It effortlessly pokes tiny holes through many a thing,
living tissue (your skin, retinas...) included.

 

[DJNY]

There are many ways to get cancer. If you care about your eyes, I won´t risk it with the 445nm laser. There are better options around nowadays. I´m sure the results are going to make you happy.

 

[Blord]

This item had been discussed before at here,
http://laserpointerforums.com/f66/blue-light-hazard-47654.html

More information.
UW EH&S Hazards of Ultraviolet Light
Black light - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Valid]

Blue Lasers at the 445nm wavelength cannot cause cancer, nor can Blu-Ray lasers at the 405nm wavelength.

They are not even UVA.

Eye damage is a whole different story though.

 

[Valid]

I was referring to the photocell bleaching and unbleaching process. Only UVB and UVC can cause cancer, and UVC is near impossible to be exposed to.

I know, you said "biochemically". :tinfoil:


Lasers at 405nm~445nm cannot cause cancer.
/thread :tired:

 

[RA_pierce]

According to what I've read, these wavelengths aren't mutagenic/carcinogenic like UVA-C, but damage to tissue can cause some forms of cancer.
Exposing skin to high intensity light (445nm and 405nm lasers included) can cause cell damage/death and release excessive amounts of free radicals which can cause melanoma.

So yes, there is a possibility.

 

[Cyparagon]

If you're burning your skin intentionally with a laser, you'll get no sympathy from me if you get cancer.

 

[Toaster]

Ok, I asked my dermatologist and he said light in to 400-500nm range can cause melanoma.

 

[Cyparagon]

I guess you better stay inside with the lights off for the rest of your life, because all white light has those components.

Also... what self-respecting male has a dermatologist?

 

[Valid]

Ok, I asked my dermatologist and he said light in to 400-500nm range can cause melanoma.

He/She must be quite dumb since the main danger lies in the UV spectrum (300nm<).

 

[Deleted member 8178]

Remember this is 1 Watt of blue light in a few square mm of area. Even though you're exposed to 445nm, and the entire visible spectrum and beyond every day, it never get close to this extreme. But I have no clue if it actually cause cancer, I'd really like to know from a reliable source. But I'm not taking chances in the meantime.

 

[Valid]

The solution lies in the definitions of ionizing versus non-ionizing radiation. Your concern with a 405nm should lie in thermal damage. Thermal damage does not cause cancer as the amount of heat required to damage the DNA in the nucleus has long since denatured the proteins outside of the nucleus resulting in cell death.

:san:

 

[Deleted member 8178]

FrothyChimp has good reputation, but this doesn't convince me, to me it just sounds like a theory and not a proven fact.

 

[00Giorge]

Everything causes cancer, so just assume that they do cause cancer and protect yourself.
It has been proven that scientists cause cancer in laboratory rats. :san: