Bioeffects of Cultured Human Cells from High Energy, Ultrashort Pulse Laser-Light.
Abstract
The use of laser light for targeting devices and weapons has sharply increased the likelihood that aircrew and support personnel will be exposed to laser light during operations. The increased potential for exposure of humans highlights the fact that there is a need for scientifically based safety standards for laser exposure at the ultrashort pulse lengths. Current safety standards are largely extrapolations of exposure limits at longer pulse lengths using a minimal visible lesion endpoint in the Rhesus monkey retinal model. A non-animal model for assessing laser-light damage to tissue, particularly human, is quite desirous for obvious scientific, political, and fiduciary reasons. I assessed the sublethal insult to human cells using a tissue culture system for specific genes that have been shown to be important in several biological processes that could lead to cancer or cell death. Using the CAT-Tox (L) (xenometrix, Inc.) assay, it appears that 532 nm nanosecond pulse of laser light are sensed and induces several stress response genes including FOS in a roughly dose dependent fashion. This approach provides insight into a more global methodology for characterizing environmental stressors via genetic profiling.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA363775
Entities
People
- John W. Obringer
- Martin D. Johnson
- Steve Phipps
Organizations
- United States Air Force Academy