Is there any evidence that infrared thermometers should not be used on a
person's forehead because they can damage the pineal gland?To get more
news about Face recognition thermometer, you can visit jiminate official website.
ANSWER:
According to several health experts, there is no current evidence that
says infrared thermometers should not be used on a person's forehead.
Here's a look at why.
A viewer reached out to the Verify team after seeing a Facebook post
warning against using infrared thermometers. It's a message being copy
and pasted all over, claiming to be from an anonymous Australian nurse.
The post warns you should not allow yourself or your kids to have an
infrared thermometer pointed at your forehead claiming it could harm a
part of the brain called the "pineal gland."
So we're Verifying: is there any evidence that infrared thermometers actually damage the pineal gland?
Our Verify researchers contacted the Food & Drug Administration, and
experts in neuroradiology, endocrinology and fire protection
engineering.
"These detectors don't emit any infrared light, so that to me is not an
issue," Peter Sunderland, a professor at University of Maryland's
Department of Fire Protection Engineering, said.
He explained that these thermometers are used to measure infrared light
to determine an object's temperature. Sunderland said some thermometers
may emit a dim red light, but that’s a guide for the person taking your
temperature.
"Some of these non-contact thermometers emit a dim red light to be sure
you aren't measuring the temperature of someone's hair," Sunderland
said. "This red light is visible and harmless. It is not IR light. These
sensors do not emit any IR light or any other type of electromagnetic
beam."
The FDA, who regulates the sale of medical devices in the U.S., agrees
that infrared thermometers don't emit any infrared energy.
"The FDA believes that FDA-cleared infrared thermometers can be safe and
effective, and FDA has provided an enforcement policy for clinical
electronic thermometers during COVID-19, which includes performance and
labeling recommendations in an FDA guidance document," an FDA
spokesperson said.
Our Verify researchers also contacted Dr. Haris Sair, director of
neurological at the John's Hopkins University School of Medicine, who
also debunked the claim.
"This thing is smack dab right in the middle of the head,'" Salir said.
"Nothing is happening between the thermometer and the pineal gland."
Dr. Sabyasachi Sen, a professor of endocrinology at the George
Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, explained
that infrared thermometers are a good tool for screening people quickly
and without invading personal space.“I don’t know where the scientific
basis is for this concern... it’s a conjecture, it’s innuendo...and in
absence of that, it actually brings up a concern that we are losing a
vital test for screening, which to me is much more of a concern in the
face of a pandemic," Sen said.
