The negative impacts of the non-contact Infrared thermometer

Aug 16, 2020 Letters

Dear Editor,

We are very concerned about the long-term effect of daily use of non-contact infrared thermometer on the forehead of healthcare workers and the general public. These thermometers were primarily used in the meatpacking and food industries, and for mechanical and building inspections to assess temperatures. Now with COVID-19 in 2020, there is a massive upsurge in the use of these kinds of thermometer to check the body temperature of humans.

There are discrepancies in the temperature readings in different brands and minor variations when the temperature is taken from one region of the body to the other. There are variations on readings in the same person when it is made after walking, running, moving from one building to another, car or bus riding.

The main concerns are the adverse psychological, physiological, and neurological effects of having a gun shaped-like device pointed to someone’s forehead daily and repeatedly. Some health care workers and patients reported sleep disturbances, including nightmares after daily forehead temperature checks.

We are already exposed daily to radiations of many forms from our Wi-Fi, phones, watches, smart TV, microwaves, medical scans, airport scans, commercial building scans, and electrical appliances, to name a few. Direct forehead scans are still bothersome for cancer-causing potential, despite claims that they are safe. Repeated and cumulative exposure to any form of radiation is not good since the long-term adverse effects can only be quantified after extensive population-based studies in tens of thousands of people over many years.

The best course of action is to take the temperature on the wrist rather than pointing to the forehead. Once the infrared scanner is appropriately charged and aimed correctly, it will give a comparable temperature reading.

Yours truly,
Dr. Keith D Cummings
Dr. Audrey Baker
Dr. Gerry Baker
Dr. Isaac Davis
Brooklyn, NY, USA

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