Proposed maximum permissible exposure limits for ultrashort laser pulses.

Recent studies have provided considerable ED50 data for both visible and near infrared wavelengths from single laser pulses below one nanosecond of exposure. The current ANSI Z136.1 standard does not offer an approved maximum permissible exposure limit for subnanosecond single laser pulses and the current suggested maximum permissible exposure limit may be overly conservative. Lacking an approved standard industrial, medical, educational, and military uses of these types of laser systems may be limited or prohibited. A new set of laser maximum permissible exposure limits for subnanosecond visible and near infrared single laser pulses is recommended, along with the steps taken to develop the proposed standard.