Medical Safety Issues Concerning the Use of Incoherent Infrared Light in Biometrics

Several biometric devices use illumination in the infrared spectral region. Typical examples are: (i) iris and retina recognition and (ii) vascular pattern recognition. Exposure of living tissues to infrared light, results in biological effects which are expressed macroscopically as heat. Medical implications of biometrics play a major role for public acceptance. Although infrared radiation is considered as safe when certain criteria, established by international committees, are followed, current literature is inconclusive on chronic low intensity exposure to the infrared spectral range. In this study, we summarize current data on the biological effects of the infrared wavelengths used in biometric systems.

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