Green Laser Pointers May Emit High Levels Of Invisible, Potentially Dangerous Infrared Light.

WebMD (8/6, Hendrick) reported that, according to research detailed in the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Technical Note 1668, "green laser pointers may emit high levels of invisible and potentially dangerous infrared light." Researchers "bought three low-cost green laser pointers that had been advertised to have a power output of 10 milliwatts," but found that one particular laser "delivered infrared levels of nearly 20 milliwatts," enough light to cause retinal damage. The investigators pointed out that inadequate testing during manufacturing may account for the intense infrared emissions found in some laser pointers.