《UV Lamp Safety Factsheet》.pdf

University of California, Irvine Environmental Health Safety Office Radiation Safety Division ULTRAVIOLET LAMP SAFETY FACTSHEET Ultraviolet (UV) lamps are used on the UC Irvine campus in a variety of applications. They are found in germicidal lamps, “black lights”, mercury vapor lamps, solar simulators, photochemical curing equipment, metal halide lamps, etc. The UV radiation portion of the electromagnetic spectrum lies approximately between 100 nm and 400 nm in wavelength. [Note: 1 nm = 1 nanometer = one billionth of a meter.] The UV spectrum has been subdivided into three distinct spectral bands:  UV-A radiation (315 nm to 400 nm), which is called “near UV” and black light, is the least photobiologically-active, but exposure can produce tanning and some burning of the skin, and can lead to the formation of cataracts (opacities in the lens of the eye). It is efficiently transmitted by air and common glass. [Tanning parlors generally expose patrons to UV-A radiation.]  UV-B radiation (280 nm to 315 nm), which is called “middle UV” and erythemal UV, causes skin tanning and “sunburn”, photokeratitis (inflammation of the cornea of the eye), photoconjuctivitis (inflammation of the mucus membrane which lines the inner surface of the eyelids), and cataracts. It is transmitted by air, but can be blocked with common glass.  UV-C radiation (100 nm to 280 nm), which is called “far UV” and germicidal UV, also causes photokeratitis and photoconjunctivitis, with maximum effects occurring at 270 nm. It is blocked by common glass and by air (for wavelengths 200 nm). Due to the insi