Protecting Workers from Ultraviolet Radiation - icnirp
Protecting Workers from Ultraviolet Radiation - icnirp
Protecting Workers from Ultraviolet Radiation - icnirp
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2. Characteristics of UVR<br />
2.1 Basic Concepts<br />
<strong>Protecting</strong> <strong>Workers</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>Ultraviolet</strong> <strong>Radiation</strong><br />
<strong>Ultraviolet</strong> radiation, like visible radiation (light) and infrared radiation, is radiant energy.<br />
Together, these forms of radiant energy are referred to as “optical radiation.” Light and other<br />
forms of optical radiation are distinguished <strong>from</strong> each other by their wavelength (the distance<br />
between crests in the wave that carries the energy). In the optical spectrum, wavelengths are<br />
normally quantified in terms of nanometers (1 nm = 10 –9 m) in the UVR and visible spectrum<br />
and in terms of micrometers (1 µm = 10 -6 m) in the infrared spectrum. Light is of shorter<br />
wavelengths than infrared and UVR is of shorter wavelengths than light. Figure 1 shows the<br />
spectral band designations by wavelength for the optical spectrum. In describing the biological<br />
effects of optical radiation, the spectrum is frequently divided into seven photobiological spectral<br />
bands (CIE 1999). The ultraviolet spectral bands are: UVC (100-280 nm), UVB (280-315 nm),<br />
and UVA (315-400 nm). The Sun and artificial light sources emit radiant energy within the<br />
optical spectrum, comprising the ultraviolet, visible and infrared (Figure 1).<br />
Figure 1. The electromagnetic spectrum and the wavelength bands.<br />
The measurement of optical radiation is referred to as “radiometry.” There are a number of<br />
radiometric terms that are used. The “radiant power” in watts (W) describes the rate of energy<br />
output of an optical source (rather than the photometric quantity of luminous flux in lumens<br />
weighted for the sensitivity of the eye that describes the output of a visible lamp designed for<br />
lighting). For a pulsed optical source such as a flashlamp, the “radiant energy” in joules (J)<br />
describes the output where one joule is equivalent to one watt delivered over 1 second or 1 wattsecond.<br />
Two dosimetric quantities quantify human exposure to UVR: “irradiance” and “radiant<br />
exposure.” The irradiance is the rate of surface exposure in watts per square meter (W m -2 ) and<br />
the radiant exposure is the radiant energy per unit area accumulated over a time interval in joules<br />
per square meter (J m -2 ).<br />
2.2 Solar <strong>Radiation</strong><br />
Sunlight has played a critical role in the development of life on Earth. The infrared and visible<br />
regions of the solar radiation comprise 95 % of the total radiation reaching the Earth’s surface.<br />
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