Ultraviolet light is a form of radiation that can be dangerous when it comes into contact with the skin or eyes. It has the ability to penetrate layers of the skin, causing tanning and burning, which can lead to premature skin aging and, potentially, to skin cancer. In addition, staring intently at UV rays can cause vision problems. That's why sunscreen and sunglasses are essential outdoor safety requirements.
It is well known that ultraviolet radiation can aggravate skin disease in patients with lupus erythematosus. While many patients are advised to avoid sunlight and artificial tanning, it's not clear how best to advise patients regarding the use of indoor lamps. In fact, many of the light bulbs commonly used in the home and workplace emit low doses of UV radiation. The irradiance is considerably lower than that of the sun, however, the exposure time can last for hours and is usually repeated daily.
Therefore, it is possible that this chronic exposure will end up causing a significant accumulation of damage. When I was at the institute, participating in a plant tissue culture experiment, we were warned not to be directly exposed to ultraviolet light as it could cause skin cancer. We were instructed to turn off the UV light before entering the room and not stay there for long. It's been more than 10 years since then, but I still remember it clearly. At the beginning of the COVID crisis, I was looking for a small container with a built-in sterilizing UV lamp to disinfect my wallet, keys, phone, etc. But I could only find a few barely large enough for a smartphone.
I finally decided on a 60W UVC lamp from Banggood and I just received it. I've always respected power, types of radiation, but my God, this thing scares you. I think I'll build a nice little box that will fit the lamp and any item I want to disinfect. The answer is simple; they are all fake. The banana test doesn't tell you anything.
UV-A and UV-B would do the same (probably faster) and are easier to manufacture (closer to the visible spectrum). A true spectrometer is needed to see if it's UV-C, specifically 257 nm, where germs are killed. None of the 3 major manufacturers of corn bulbs are manufacturing them and no one else has the skills (or the ethics). Buy UV-C (not LED) that produces ozone. So when you turn it on after a while, you can smell ozone to confirm that it's not fake, at least.
Some UVC mercury lamps are made with envelopes that block the wavelengths that will create ozone. A disservice? Your research that it does ZERO at 254 nm exactly proves my point of view. Any other UV will simply discolor walls, kill no virus, and give a false sense of security, even below 280 nm with the filter (not to mention that higher-nm UV-a and uv-b rays are known to be carcinogenic). There's no point in keeping something that's dangerous and doesn't kill viruses. UVC rays are generally safe and Chernobyl emits radiation. A light that is turned off does not emit anything.
They are different types of radiation. The COVID pandemic has made people more aware of their environment and how they interact with it. There has never been a greater urge for safe UV light than now. Most experts agree that it will take time for people to reintegrate into society. Not everything will remain the same, even after a vaccine is given to a portion of the population. All radiation is a form of energy, most of which is invisible to the human eye.
UV radiation is just one form of radiation and is measured on a scientific scale called the electromagnetic spectrum (EM). UV radiation is just one type of electromagnetic energy you might be familiar with. The radio waves that transmit sound from a radio station tower to the stereo or between mobile phones; microwaves, such as those that heat food in a microwave oven; the visible light emitted by house lights; and X-rays, such as those used in hospital X-ray machines to capture images of bones inside the body, are all forms of electromagnetic energy. UV radiation is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum between X-rays and visible light. Electromagnetic radiation is all around us, although we can only see part of it.
All electromagnetic radiation (also called electromagnetic energy) is made up of tiny packets of energy or “particles” called photons that travel in a wave-like pattern and move at the speed of light. The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into categories defined by a range of numbers. These ranges describe the level of activity or energy of photons and size of 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 widely separated peaks. Microwave photons 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 very close to each other. It's important for people to understand what ultraviolet light is and how it can affect their health so they can make informed decisions about using these types of bulbs in their homes or workplaces. Ultraviolet light has been around since before humans existed on Earth but its dangers have only recently been discovered.
As more research is conducted on this type of radiation, it's becoming increasingly clear that exposure should be limited as much as possible in order to protect our health from its potentially harmful effects. With this knowledge in mind, it's important for people to understand what ultraviolet light is and how it can affect their health so they can make informed decisions about using these types of bulbs in their homes or workplaces.
