Table 2.

Comparison of electrosurgical and laser plume

	Electrosurgical plume	Laser plume
Source	Electrodessication, electrocoagulation, electrofulguration, radiofrequency ablation	Excimer, argon krypton, carbon dioxide, Erbium:YAG, ruby, diode, dyes, Nd:YAG, Alexandrite
Mean diameter	<0.1 µm	˜0.3 µm
Plume produced on treating 1g of tissue	Equivalent to inhaling six unfiltered cigarettes	Equivalent to inhaling three unfiltered cigarettes
Chemicals found in significant concentrations	Benzene, ethyl benzene, xylene, styrene, carbon disulfide, and toluene	Acetonitrile, acrolein, ammonia, benzene, ethylene, and toluene