Are UV Cold Cathodes dangerous to your health (say if placed in your case)?

[simms]

Discuss.

 

[vanderStoep]

I doubt it. I do not think they radiate enough to have a significant impact.

 

[wacki]

Already discussed in much detail. Seach the archives. The answer is a big fat NO. Your average window lets in more UV.

 

[imported_Nail]

You're doooooomed!

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: wacki
Already discussed in much detail. Seach the archives. The answer is a big fat NO. Your average window lets in more UV.

I do remember someone saying that UV LEDs could potentially be dangerous (since they're relatively bright point sources of UV light), but I didn't see anything backing that up. CCFLs should be no worse than any other fluorescent tube, although I wouldn't sit staring directly into a UV light from six inches away or anything like that.

 

[simms]

Originally posted by: Matthias99

Originally posted by: wacki
Already discussed in much detail. Seach the archives. The answer is a big fat NO. Your average window lets in more UV.

I do remember someone saying that UV LEDs could potentially be dangerous (since they're relatively bright point sources of UV light), but I didn't see anything backing that up. CCFLs should be no worse than any other fluorescent tube, although I wouldn't sit staring directly into a UV light from six inches away or anything like that.

I figure if gov't lets these go, and they're CE and American Standard approved it should be safe right?

I'll search archives.

 

[NewBlackDak]

Yeh, kinda like red die #2 and saccharin.

 

[simms]

Nothing in the archives...

 

[Geniere]

Like aspirin, UV can be beneficial in small doses and harmful in large doses. A couple of lamps is ok, an array of 50?

 

[simms]

Originally posted by: Geniere
Like aspirin, UV can be beneficial in small doses and harmful in large doses. A couple of lamps is ok, an array of 50?

But this is also over time as well... we're talking years?

 

[Cogman]

k, you strap about 50 UV lights to your chest and keep them running for several years, . You walk out side and that spot on your leg has already recieved more radiation then the UV lamp has produced over the years. People are too scared about "Radiation" and their thoughts of it is very unrealistic.

 

[wacki]

Originally posted by: simms
Nothing in the archives...

Did you even look?

UV Link #1

There were several other threads, but here is one.... time is precious.

If i remember correctly, UV is tricky as it can cause damage but you can't really see it. Acrylic however, blocks UV, so even if the lamp emited as much UV as the sun, which it doesn't, you have nothing to fear because of the acrylic.

correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Geniere]

OK, here?s the skinny on radiation within my knowledge level. From the late sixties to the late eighties I managed a Bio-medical Engineering department at a large hospital. I had the requisite physics and chemistry courses one would receive pursuing an EE degree, nothing more. To execute my job properly I had to become sufficiently knowledgeable of the function and use of a wide range of medical devices. For instance if a physician complained that a defibrillator did not function properly and caused a patient to die I would first analyze the devices output and, if proper, visit the morgue to determine with a pathologist if it was used correctly. There are many applications for UV radiation in a hospital environment. In the laboratory it is used to catalyze a chemical reaction or analyze the end product, used for sterilization, used in the nursery to treat jaundiced infants, used to determine if an employee properly washed his hands after using the bathroom, used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis. UV comes in a variety of flavors UVA, UVB, and UVC, with UVC having the most energetic photons. Commonly, UVA sources would be found in sun tanning parlors, UVB would be found in psoriasis treatment centers, and UVC (very hazardous) would be found in water treatment systems, perhaps a backyard pool.

All mentioned uses of UV are only possible due to the fact that UV radiation is ionizing radiation; the orbital electron is ejected from the atom through a variety of scattering events. It is true that one could expose themselves to the cold cathode tube for many years without harm. It is equally true that the probability exists for some atoms comprising living skin cells including the genetic amino acids will be ionized perhaps causing cell death. It?s not a big deal, as millions of skin cells die each day normally. The only concern is the very remote possibility of genetic change that may generate a malignant cell.

I am certainly not afraid of radiation and have intentionally exposed my self to the very hazardous, potentially lethal radiation of a medical linear accelerator used for cancer therapy. Indeed, 5 patients in the US were killed by linear accelerators manufactured in Canada, because of faulty software (go to http://courses.cs.vt.edu/~cs3604/lib/Therac_25/Therac_1.html if you?re curious ). I wore protective lead aprons and avoided direct exposure to the beam but still received a dose exceeding my yearly allotment.

One should not spend their life in fear of anything, but should be sufficiently knowledgeable to make intelligent decisions.

 

[simms]

Thanks for your post. I guess as long as I keep the UV tube out of sight, I can just enjoy the reflection of the lights in my case.

Simon