Damaged inhaler?

[danielishere19]

Hi, this is a random question but I was just curious. This evening while out doing shopping as I was paying at a self service I took my inhaler out of my pocket to reach my card. My inhaler was on the part which scans the codes

Can the radar cause any issues with the inhaler? I was curious as when you go through customs they scan your bag through an x-ray machine but causes no damage so wondering about supermarket radars.

[Gareth57]

The supermarket laser scanners have no damaging effects on any of your shopping be it food, electrical, liquid, aerosol or non prescription pharmaceutical , so I cannot see it will do anything to an inhaler.

[Elspe]

AFAIK they operate on visible light. There's a red beam or beams that shine on the items being scanned. So should be safe for your inhaler and most things.

[runcyclexcski]

laser scanners at 633 nm (red) and 532 nm (green) are no more damaging than a laser pointer, or a DVD player. These are 1mW perhaps. If it does not burn your hand, it cannot burn the plastic and the Aluminium can. More fun ballpark numbers:

1mW -- reader laser scanners. safe, but do not stare into one.

1W-5W+ -- laser engravers. Can "bite" your skin, but you will jump away before it does any damage, like touching a hot pan.

100W -- CO2 laser cutters (invisible light) - cut 10 mm plexiglass.

1kW will burn through 1mm sheet metal.

10kW will burn though 5mm steel, perhaps. The laser box is the size of a cupboard.