Radiation Protection Service

Ultraviolet Radiation

Introduction

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is electromagnetic radiation in the wavelength region 100nm to 400nm. This is just below the wavelength of visible light and therefore UV radiation cannot be seen by eye. UV is divided into three regions UV-A (315-400nm), UV-B (280-315nm), and UV-C (100-280nm).

Various sources of UV radiation are used in the university including transilluminators, crosslinkers, spectrophotometers, arc lamps, germicidal lamps, UV curing lamps, handheld fluorescence lamps.

Hazards

UV radiation is 'non-ionising', i.e. the energy is not high enough to produce ionisation in material with which it interacts, however it can cause injuries by photochemical reactions in the skin and the eyes.

Acute exposures can produce skin burns (erythema or ‘sunburn’) or corneal burns ('photokeratitis', ‘welders flash’, ‘arc eye’ or ‘snow blindness’).
Chronic exposures can lead to an increased risk of skin cancer and cataract formation in the eye.

The most biologically damaging UV wavelengths are from 200 to 315 nm and UV-C and UV-B are therefore the most hazardous types. Artificial sources can emit significant amounts of these wavelengths often without associated visible wavelengths.