Concepts of risk assesment of complex chemical mixtures in laser pyrolysis fumes

Laser-tissue interaction may generate by energy absorption a complex mixture of gaseous, volatile, semi-volatile and particular substances. At the time about 150 different components are known from IR-laser interaction with different organ tissues like liver, fat, muscle and skin. The laser-tissue interaction process thereby is dominated by heating processes, which is confirmed by the similarity of formed chemical products in comparison with conventional cooking processes for food preparation. With the identified chemical substances and relative amounts in backmind a walk along the think path of risk assessment with special reference to pyrolysis products is given. The main way of intake of pyrolysis products is the inhalative one, which results from the fine aerosols formed and the high spreading energy out of the irradiated source. The liberated amounts of irritative chemicals as (unsaturated) aldehydes, heterocycles of bad odor and possibly cancerogenic acting substances relates to some (mu) g/g of laser vaporized tissue. With regard to this exposure level in a hypothetic one cubic meter volume the occupational limit settings are far away. Even indoor air exposure levels are in nearly all cases underwent, for the content of bad smelling substances forces an effective ventilation. Up to now no laser typical chemical substance could be identified, which was not elsewhere known by frying or baking processes of meat, food or familiar. Starting with the GRAS concept of 1957 the process of risk assessment by modified food products and new ingredients is still improofing. The same process of risk assessment is governing the laser pyrolysis products of mammalian tissues. By use of sufficient suction around the laser tissue source the odor problems as well as the toxicological problems could be solved.