(in German)

The present scientific opinion on investigations of the biological efficacy of pulsed incoherent optical radiation contains an explanation as well as a concretization of research questions with regard to intermittent and pulsed incoherent optical radiation at work. Based upon a description of the findings on photothermal and photochemical effects of optical radiation on biological tissue, the hazards to the eye and the skin are described. Therefore, an explanation and evaluation of the procedures different for laser radiation and for incoherent optical radiation are presented taking the special features of these types of radiation into account. The current national, regional and international specifications for exposure limit values are presented in a comparative manner and their historical development is explained with regard to pulsed optical radiation sources.

In an overview, radiation sources accompanied by potential adverse effects to the health caused by their emitted incoherent optical radiation are described and their specific features are presented. Based upon this, a definition of the radiation-relevant value range will be given from the point of view of the pulse itself or its behaviour as well as with respect to certain wavelength ranges. For the latter, UV radiation and the so-called blue light hazard range are discussed in particular since in both cases photochemical effects are dominating and a cumulative behaviour might be expected when applying a certain pulse configuration.

Finally, proposals are made for biological tissues and structures suitable for the planned investigations allowing a transfer of the experimental results to the human eye and to the skin.

Please download the complete report "Scientific opinion on the biological efficacy of pulsed incoherent optical radiation" (in German only).