How is ultraviolet used

Lighted signs — lighted signs are required for many purposes like illuminating emergency exits in public places and for marketing and brand awareness purposes. LightSources and our valued partner Voltarc provide fluorescent and neon lighting solutions with decades of experience in custom designed solutions. Backlighting — UV lamps provide backlighting to the avionics and aerospace industry, providing reliable lighting in airplane cabins and cockpits.

LightSources and our valued partners offer experienced backlighting solutions with high-quality UV lamps designed for backlighting found in many demanding industries including the NASA space shuttle. UV curing — used in many manufacturing applications, UV lamps for curing of inks, coatings and finishes provides a strengthened ou ter coating. Adhesives, varnishes and lacquers cured with UV lamps are more durable and last in demanding environments such as industrial, automotive, and aerospace applications.

Tanning — UV lamps are the core technology in tanning salons, offering clientele a way to enjoy a sun-kissed look from man-made technology. LightSources offers many benefits to the tanning industry with the introduction of proprietary technology designed strictly to improve tanning performance and safety. Phototherapy — UV lamps provide many medical benefits for a host of conditions such as skin diseases including acne, jaundice, psoriasis, eczema and other conditions like seasonal depression.

Germicidal — UVC germicidal lamps are designed to replicate UVC radiation which is proven to have immense sterilization and disinfection properties. Today, germicidal UVC light applications are the first choice for many industries worldwide that require water, air or surface sterilization.

Air — UVC germicidal lamps are used in air sterilization systems including upper room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation UVGI systems and can also be placed in HVAC systems to sterilize the air as it runs through HVAC systems while also preventing mold and mildew on cooling coils.

UV air sterilization systems can be used just about anywhere and are especially helpful in public places like hospitals, schools, libraries, airports, and anywhere people congregate with limited ventilation. All radiation is a form of energy, most of which is invisible to the human eye. UV radiation is only one form of radiation and it is measured on a scientific scale called the electromagnetic EM spectrum.

UV radiation is only one type of EM energy you may be familiar with. More Information on UV Radiation. Electromagnetic radiation is all around us, though we can only see some of it. All EM radiation also called EM energy is made up of minute packets of energy or 'particles,' called photons, which travel in a wave-like pattern and move at the speed of light. The EM spectrum is divided into categories defined by a range of numbers. These ranges describe the activity level, or how energetic the photons are, and the size of the wavelength in each category.

For example, at the bottom of the spectrum radio waves have photons with low energies, so their wavelengths are long with peaks that are far apart. The photons of microwaves have higher energies, followed by infrared waves, UV rays, and X-rays. At the top of the spectrum, gamma rays have photons with very high energies and short wavelengths with peaks that are close together.

More Information on the Electromagnetic Spectrum. Like all forms of light on the EM spectrum, UV radiation is classified by wavelength. Wavelength describes the distance between the peaks in a series of waves.

Thus, the only way that humans can be exposed to UVC radiation is from an artificial source like a lamp or laser. A: UVC radiation can cause severe burns of the skin and eye injuries photokeratitis.

Skin burns and eye injuries from UVC exposure usually resolve within a week with no known long-term damage. Since the penetration depth of UVC radiation is very low, the risk of skin cancer, cataracts or permanent vision loss is also thought to be very low. Certain industrial chemical pollutants in the atmosphere are gradually eroding earth's protective shield ozone layer which stops the sun's UV radiation from reaching the earth. In recent years, there has been growing concern about increasing levels of UV radiation in the sunlight, especially during the summer months.

Excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer and eye cataracts. Ways to limit exposure to the sun's UV radiation include avoiding working in the sun, wearing protective clothing and hats, and applying sunscreens.

Protective clothing can include long pants, hats, and long-sleeved shirts. Some newer, sun-resistant fabrics are more efficient in blocking UV radiation. Physical sunscreens e. Chemical sunscreens are non-opaque i. Broad spectrum sunscreens are intended to block both types of UV radiation.

Sunscreens are rated according to Sun Protection Factor SPF , an index of protection against skin erythema reddening of the skin. The higher the SPF is, the more protection it offers. For example, sunscreens should be applied 20 minutes before going outdoors, and reapplied every two hours, or more often if perspiring sweating , swimming, or working in water. Use a broad spectrum lip balm with an SPF of 30 or higher as well. We hear on the radio and read in the newspapers about the UV index as a part of the weather forecast.

The UV index is a measure of the intensity of UV radiation in the sunlight that causes reddening of the skin erythema. The UV index can increase the mid-teens at midday in the tropics.

The implications of the UV index are summarized in Table 3. Besides direct sunlight, UV radiation exposure can occur via indirect routes. The following factors must be remembered in this regard:.

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CCOHS is not liable for any loss, claim, or demand arising directly or indirectly from any use or reliance upon the information. OSH Answers Fact Sheets Easy-to-read, question-and-answer fact sheets covering a wide range of workplace health and safety topics, from hazards to diseases to ergonomics to workplace promotion.

Search all fact sheets: Search. Type a word, a phrase, or ask a question. UV radiation is divided into three wavelength ranges: Figure 1 - Electromagnetic spectrum.

Table 1 Workers at Potential Risk from Exposure to UV Radiation Food and drink irradiators Salon workers and patrons Laboratory workers Lighting technicians Lithographic and printing workers Forensic experts Dentists and assistants Dermatologists and pediatricians General freight truckers Outdoor workers Construction workers Contractors and surveyors Paint and resin curers Physiotherapists Plasma torch operators Welders Agriculture, forestry, fishing Photolithography Table 2 Some Devices Emitting UV Radiation Bactericidal lamps Black light lamps Carbon, xenon and other arcs Dental polymerizing equipment Fluorescence equipment Hydrogen and deuterium lamps Ultraviolet nail curing lamps Metal halide lamps Mercury lamps Plasma torches Phototherapy lamps Printing ink polymerizing equipment Welding equipment Counterfeit currency detectors.

Figure 2 - Relative sensitivity of the eye and the skin to UV radiation of different wavelengths. Figure 3 - The eye. These limits are given below: 1.

If outside for more than one hour, wear sunglasses and sunscreen. Download 0 items. Twitter Pinterest Facebook Instagram. Email Us. See our newsletters here. Would you like to take a short survey? This survey will open in a new tab and you can fill it out after your visit to the site. Yes No.