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Balancing the Risk of Eye Irritation from UV ‐C with Infection from Bioaerosols
Author(s) -
Sliney David
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/php.12093
Subject(s) - phototoxicity , erythema , dermatology , irritation , ultraviolet radiation , ultraviolet , stratum corneum , medicine , chemistry , materials science , immunology , pathology , optoelectronics , biochemistry , radiochemistry , in vitro
Abstract The very aspect (phototoxicity) that makes short‐wavelength ultraviolet ( UV ) radiation an effective germicidal agent also is responsible for the unwanted side effects of erythema (reddening of the skin) and photokeratitis (“welder's flash” or “snow‐blindness”). Overexposure to this short‐wavelength UV radiation can produce these unwanted side effects from a very mild irritation of the skin and eyes to a rather painful case of photokeratitis. These effects are fortunately transient, as only superficial cells of the eye—the corneal epithelium—and the most superficial layer of the skin—the superficial epidermis—are significantly affected. Normal turnover of these cells soon erase the signs and symptoms of these effects. Radiant energy in the UV ‐C band has very shallow penetration depths which account for the very superficial nature of any injury to the skin and eyes from excessive exposure, minimum risk of delayed effects and at the same time the strong absorption by bioaerosols. Guidelines for human exposure to UV ‐C must be applied intelligently so as not to limit germicidal efficacy in upper‐room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.