Hygienic assessment of ultraviolet radiation in residential and public buildings

Introduction. In the premises of residential and public buildings there are widely used products being a source of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) mainly in the UV-A range (315–400 nm). Introduction of new technologies, change of technical characteristics of UVR sources sets one of the tasks to obtain information about the safety of their use. The aim of the study. To carry out measurements of UVB energy illuminance produced by ultraviolet lamps for polymerization of coatings and ultraviolet insecticidal lamps, to assess compliance with hygienic standards. Materials and methods. Six ultraviolet polymerization manicure lamps and four ultraviolet insecticidal lamps with different types of UVI sources of varying power were studied. Measurement points were placed at distances limited by the product design (manicure lamps) and at the distances of use (insecticide lamps). Measurements of UVI energy illuminance levels were carried out in an anechoic shielded chamber. Results. Levels of radiation in the UV-A range, emitted by polymerization lamps of different type and power, were in the range from 17.1±2.0 W/m2 to 37.0±4.3 W/m2 and exceeded hygienic standards. The measurement results in this range from stationary insecticidal lamps demonstrated that the values corresponding to hygienic standards are registered at distances of at least 0.45 m, 0.5 m and 0.6 m from devices with total lamp power of 20, 40 and 80 W, respectively, from portable household insecticidal lamp – directly at the lamp body. The measurement results of UVI energy illuminance in the UV-B spectral range from all investigated polymerization and insecticidal lamps were within the permissible values, in the UV-C spectral range – below the sensitivity of the applied measuring instrument. Limitations. The results of the study can only be applied to measurements of the energy illuminance of UV light produced by UV polymerization and insecticidal lamps (manicure and pedicure lamps, insect traps), using UV-Radiometers. Conclusion. The widespread use of polymerization lamps poses one of the tasks of developing recommendations for their safe use, taking into account the technical characteristics of the lamps and the time of exposure. To reduce the adverse effects of UV insecticidal lamps, it is necessary to determine and ensure a safe distance from them to the nearest possible location of a person or place them in places of short-term stay of people.