Answer to Question #7276 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"
Category: Consumer Products — Electronic: TV, Computers
The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:
Q
I work with small appliances and was trying to fix a DVD player. After opening it, I read on a plate to be careful and not remove the plate because it emits radiation. What kind of radiation do DVD players put out? If exposed to an open DVD player, is it a hazard?
A
DVD players contain lasers, which are considered a Class I product by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This class of laser is generally considered safe since the laser is contained within the product. You should not be concerned about any hazard from this specific product. However, this obviously implies that you do not disassemble the product and stare at the laser directly because, depending on the type of laser, this could cause damage to your eye. For more information you may visit the FDA website.
Orhan Suleiman, MS, PhD
Ask the Experts is posting answers using only SI (the International System of Units) in accordance with international practice. To convert these to traditional units we have prepared a
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Answer posted on 17 March 2008. The information posted on this web page is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice. To the best of our knowledge, answers are correct at the time they are posted. Be advised that over time, requirements could change, new data could be made available, and Internet links could change, affecting the correctness of the answers. Answers are the professional opinions of the expert responding to each question; they do not necessarily represent the position of the Health Physics Society.
