Optical Radiation Hazard

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Optical Radiation Hazard Measurement

Optical Radiation Hazard Light Meters

International Light Technologies (ILT) has designed a selection of systems to measure almost any Optical Radiation Hazard application as defined by ICNIRP, ACGIH and EU Directive 2006/25/EC.

 

Sources emitting optical radiation are of paramount concern to hygienists, safety engineers, and public health officials, both from their beneficial effects and their potential as a hazard to health and safety.

 

International Light Technologies has a long history measuring optical hazard radiation. ILT's first product for these measurements, the (ILT)ACT5 filter, was based on the ICNIRP* / ACGIH* spectral sensitivity function.

 

Our product offering in this area has expanded to include products for testing based on EU Directive 2006/25/EC*. Although our product line does not include a high priced research grade double monochromator, ILT has designed a versatile, lower cost, easy to use portable selection of systems to measure almost any Optical Radiation Hazard application with N.I.S.T. traceable and ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accredited calibrations.

 

Many common light sources can produce various damaging health conditions.Welding and cutting equipment, lasers, office copiers, air sterilizers, and infrared heat lamps are some of the more commonly encountered optical radiation hazards. While most people are familiar with the damaging effects of continued exposure to the sun or even of the dangers of short-term exposure to welding equipment, many people are not familiar with the more subtle, but equally damaging optical radiation hazards presented by some of these other sources.

 

Artificial UV light sources, useful for photo-etching, curing adhesives, paint and coatings, air, water sterilization, and controlled plant growth isn't visible to the human eye and can go undetected without realizing the damage that is being done until it is too late.

 

These artificial sources can have UV levels many more times that of the sun producing a risk for greater injury in less time. Although knowledge about optical radiation hazards from UV light sources may be more obvious, thanks in large part to the sun and all of its publicity, the hazards presented by infrared and blue sources are just as real but far less known.

 

Lasers, found in almost every home or office in the shape of CD drives, DVD players, cutting equipment, measurement devices, indicators, and as research tools can focus tremendous amounts of optical energy into a tiny spot capable of tremendous amount of damage to the human eye or skin.

 

Even the smaller, less focused beams caused by scattering pose potential hazards. Some of the harmful effects which can be produced by these types of sources as well as others can include erythema (skin redness), photokeratosis (inflammation of the cornea more commonly referred to as "snow blindness"), skin cancer, Vitiligo (de-pigmentation of the skin), conjunctivitis, and temporary or permanent loss of vision. Continuous or repetitive exposure to low level sources may produce cumulative damage such as cataracts, blindness and cancer.

 

Safety professionals must weigh the risks against the benefits.  While all these sources have great benefits, the risks are there and must carefully be accounted for and personnel protection assured. Industrial hygienists, safety engineers, and public health officials must weigh the factors of human health, safety, and well being against any benefits derived from such sources. As these sources have grown more commonplace, so too has the assessment of these hazards through direct measurement of their light output against national and/or international standards for acceptable levels of human exposure.

 

ILT has a selection of systems to measure almost any Optical Radiation Hazard application. 

 

ILT meters come with NIST traceable, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited calibrations in units of Watts, Lumens, Watt/cm2, lux and foot-candles as well as full spectrum analysis.

 

Input optics, including small cosine receptors, integrating spheres, narrow beam adapters and apertures (for testing uniformity) can be added to ILT systems making them the most versatile systems available.

 

ILT engineers and technical support staff are available to customize systems to the unique requirements of our customers.

 

Use the table below to identify the system (meter + detector) that meets your specific application.  Use the table to find the spectral range you wish to measure.  The table can be filtered to show our meters by type, (e.g., hand-held), as well as searching on the minimum and maximum spectral range you wish to measure.  The tables can also be sorted to group systems by meter type, spectral range, measurement range, and units.  Click the product link of the system to view it's details.

 

Need assistance?  Contact us using the form below, or by calling us at 978-818-6180.

 

* ICNIRP - International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
* ACGIH - American Conference of (Governmental) Industrial Hygienists
* EU Directive 2006/25/EC - an EU directive on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks arising from artificial optical radiation. 
** EU DIRECTIVE 2006/26/EC: The range of 300 to 700 nm covers parts of UVB, all of UVA and most visible radiation, however the associated hazard is commonly referred to as "blue light". Blue light, strictly speaking, covers only the range of approximately 400 to 490 nm.

 

* All Radiometers/Photometers/Spectroradiometers are NIST Traceable.
* If units of measure are not shown please contact us (empirical units also available i.e.fc, fL, nits, lm/ft²).


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Explore All Light Meters By Application Type

Application Common Sources Meter Type Spectral Range Measurement Range Units Product
Unprotected Skin and Eye Hazard Manufacturing, Welding, Office Light, Office Copier, Solar Simulator, UV Light Emitters Bench-top/Lab 180-400 nm 3e-9 – 2.5e-3 eff W/cm² ILT5000, SED240/ACT5/W
Erythema Any Bench-top/Lab 250-400 nm 2.33e-8 – 2.33 W/cm² ILT5000, SED005/WBS320/W
Erythema Any Handheld 250-400 nm 1e-7 – 1 W/cm² ILT2400, SED005/WBS320/TD
Erythema Broadband UV Source, UVA Lamps, UV Curing Lamps, UV LEDs Bench-top/Lab 315-400 nm 2e-10 – 0.1 W/cm² ILT5000, SED033/UVA/W
Erythema Broadband UV Source, UVA Lamps, UV Curing Lamps, UV LEDs Handheld 315-390 nm 2e-8 – 0.2 W/cm² ILT2400, SED033/UVA/TD
"Blue Eye" Hazard LEDs, Solar Light, High Powered VIS, Manufacturing, Lasers, Welding Bench-top/Lab 390-510 nm 5e-9 – 3 W/cm²/sr ILT5000, SED033/BLUE/R
"Blue Eye" Hazard LEDs, Solar Light, High Powered VIS, Manufacturing, Lasers, Welding Handheld 390-510 nm 3e-8 – 3 W/cm²/sr ILT2400, SED033/BLUE/R
"Blue Eye" Hazard LEDs, Solar Light, High Powered VIS, Manufacturing, Lasers, Welding Bench-top/Lab 390-510 nm 3e-10 – 0.1 W/cm² ILT5000, SED033/BLUE/TD
"Blue Eye" Hazard LEDs, Solar Light, High Powered VIS, Manufacturing, Lasers, Welding Handheld 390-510 nm 9e-9 – 0.1 W/cm² ILT2400, SED033/BLUE/TD
"Blue Eye" Hazard LEDs, Solar Light, High Powered VIS, Manufacturing, Lasers, Welding Bench-top/Lab 400-700 nm 2e-10 – 0.1 W/cm² ILT5000, SED033/F/HMR/W
"Blue Eye" Hazard LEDs, Solar Light, High Powered VIS, Manufacturing, Lasers, Welding Handheld 400-700 nm 2.7e-9 – 0.1 W/cm² ILT2400, SED033/F/HMR/W
EML Equivalent Melanopic Lux LED Based Lamps, Signs, Headlights, Displays, TVs, etc. Handheld 400-600 nm 5e-3 – 8e4 lux ILT2400 Photometer, SED033/EML/TD
IR Heat Sources, Manufacturing, Lasers Bench-top/Lab 800-1400 nm 4e-11 – 0.03 W/cm² ILT5000, SED007/W
Eye lens / Cataractogenesis Any Handheld 800-1400 nm 2e-9 – 0.03 W/cm² ILT2400, SED007/W
Manufacturing, Welding, Office Light, Office Copier, Solar Simulator, UV Light Emitters Handheld 180-400 nm 5e-7 – 4e-3 eff W/cm2 ILT2400, SED240/T2ACT5
Manufacturing, Welding, Office Light, Office Copier, Solar Simulator, UV Light Emitters Handheld 180-400 nm 5e-7 – 4e-3 eff W/cm2 ILT2400, SED240/T2ACT5
IR Hazard IR Heat Sources, Manufacturing, Lasers Bench-top/Lab 700-2100 nm 9e-5 – 0.4 W/cm2 ILT5000, SED623/SCS695/W
IR Hazard IR Heat Sources, Manufacturing, Lasers Handheld 700-2100 nm 9e-5 – 0.4 W/cm2 ILT2400, SED623/SCS695/W
Visible Skin, Burn Bench-top/Lab 380-3000 nm 9e-5 – 0.4 W/cm2 ILT5000, SED623/SCS395/W
Visible Skin, Burn Handheld 380-3000 nm 9e-5 – 0.4 ILT2400, SED623/SCS395/W
Handheld 380-780 nm 5 – 5e5 lux ILT710 Flicker Meter