Light, Lasers, and Synchrotron Radiation A Health Risk Assessment

This volume contains the formal record of the lectures presented at the 9th Course of the International School of Radiation Damage and Protection held at the "E . Majorana" International Centre for Scientific Culture in Erice (Italy) from May 9 to May 20, 1989. This course was the last of a series of 4 courses, started in 1981, that were dedicated to the assessment of risk hazard from non-ionizing radiation. The proceedings of these courses were all published by Plenum Press with the following headings: 1) M. Grandolfo, S. M. Michaelson and A. Rindi, Eds. : "Biological Effects and Dosimetry of Nonionizing Radiation; Radiofrequency and Microwave Energy", Plenum Press, New York, NATO ASI Series A Life Sciences, Vo1. 49 (1983); 2) M. Grandolfo, S. M. Michaelson and A. Rindi, Eds. : "Biological Effects and Dosimetry of Static and ELF Electromagnetic Fields", Plenum Press, New York, E. Majorana International Science Series, Life Sciences, Vol. 19 (1985) ; 3) M. H. Repacholi, M. Grandolfo and A. Rindi, Eds. : "Ultrasound; medical applications, biological effects and hazard potential", Plenum Press, New York (1987). We hope that all these volumes together may represent a complete textbook and a reference for the students and scientists interested in the physics, biology, measurement and dosimetry, health effects and standard setting, in short, the risk assessment of that wide field of radiation presently classified as non-ionizing radiation. We are indebted to the Associa?ione Italiana Protezione dalle Radiazioni (AIRP), The Internat:l.

The Sources and the Interaction with Matter.- Fundamentals of Optical Physics.- Characteristics of Optical Noncoherent Sources.- Lamps and Lighting Systems.- Characteristics of Synchrotron Radiation.- Characteristics of Coherent Optical Sources.- Radiation Interactions with Matter: Some General Considerations on the Ionizing/Non-Ionizing Boundary Region.- The Detection.- Radiometric Measurements for Broadband Optical Sources.- Laser Beam Diagnostics.- Laser Radiation Detectors.- Quantitative Determination of Ultraviolet Radiation.- Measurements of Welding Arcs and Plasma Arcs.- Ultraviolet Exposure in the Outdoor Environment: Measurements of Ambient Ultraviolet Exposure Levels at Large Zenith Angles.- The Biological Effects.- Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye.- Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin.- Biological Effects of Coherent and Noncoherent IR Radiation.- Infrared Radiation and the Eye.- Infrared Energy and Skin: Biological Effects and Health Hazards.- Potential Ocular and Skin Hazards from Lamps and Projector Systems.- Ultraviolet Radiation and the Eye.- Ultraviolet Mutagenesis.- Risk Assessment, Protection and Standards.- Laser Output Parameters Necessary for Hazard Assessment.- Control of Outdoor Laser Hazards.- Protective Screens and Filters for IR Protection.- Welding Safety Measures and Welding Filters.- Laser Eye Protectors.- Visible and Infra-Red Radiation (Non Laser) Protection Standards.- Ultraviolet Standards.- IRPA/INIRC Guidelines on Ultraviolet.- Laser Safety Standards: Historical Development and Rationale.- The IRPA/INIRC Guidelines on Limits of Exposure to Laser Radiation.- Medical Surveillance in Laser Working Sites.- Applications and Related Topics.- Medical Lasers and Biological Criteria and Limits of Their Therapeutic Effects.- Current and Future Applications of Lasers in Medicine.- Towards a Solution of the Ozone Layer Depletion Problem.- Participants.