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Introduction
The constant technological advancement has led to the rise of countless great inventions. A well-known instance is the UVA black light. However, people frequently get confused between UVA black light and UV light. Even though they share several common features, containing high effectiveness and limited damage, certain differences exist between them. Accordingly, their major variance will be explained below along with the introduction of features of the UVA black light.
Difference Between UVA Black Light & UV Light
Ultraviolet radiation light, commonly known as UV light, generates the shortest wavelength in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is the range of radiation from being radio waves to highly dangerous gamma radiation. The UV light is typically separated into three categories according to its wavelength, including UVA, UVB and UVC. In particular, UVA rays carry the longest wavelength of 315 to 400 nm, while producing less harm to the human body and the environment. On the other hand, UVB and UVC create a lower wavelength of 280 to 315 nm and 180 to 280 nm respectively. Continuous exposure under them results in sunburn and skin cancer, impacting human skin.
UVA black light, a type of UV light, typically refers to a fluorescent lamp coated with a special phosphorescent material that emits UV radiation within the UVA range. Phosphorescence offers the maximum performance along with the ‘glow-in-the-dark’ materials, that absorb energy through exposure to light and emit it again in darkness. By eliminating the negative impacts of UV light, specifically, effects of UVB and UVC, UVA black light takes advantage of UVA light to optimize the fluorescent operation while minimizing the damage on human body.
Potential Dangers of UVA Black Light
Despite the fact that the majority of professionals have claimed that limited exposure to UVA black light will not lead to any danger, a minority believes that the non-ionizing quality carried by the UV wavelength results in the potential growth of a malignant melanoma. However, no studies have supported these claims. On top of it, although its harm on human eyes has been lowered, continuous exposure and absence of gear are proved to possibly lead to ‘snow blindness’ and mutations in the lens and retinas. Correspondingly, during the usage of UVA black light, technicians are required to wear personal protective gear and adopt related equipment to protect themselves against exposure.
Guidelines of Applying UVA Black Light
To secure the health of technicians during operation, protective clothing acts as the first shield. A fully buttoned lab coat, long pants and closed toe shoes are required. No gaps should be exposed, especially, the wrist and neck areas. Disposable latex or nitrile gloves can protect the exposed skin on the hands. However, concerning that vinyl gloves can transmit a significant amount of actinic UV, they should be avoided. A face shield is also needed to protect the eyes and face. With regard to operations that involve splash or projectile hazards, technicians should also wear safety goggles under the shield.
Applications of UVA Black Light
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Commercial Insect Traps
Considering that UV light is attractive to flying insects, multiple places, for instance, restaurants, stores and supermarkets adopt UV light to reduce the number of insects. Thereby, UV light is frequently applied in producing bug zappers.
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Commercial Printing
Commercial reprography machines adopt UVA light bulbs in instant curing inks on printed documents. It increases the variety of materials to be printed on, particularly, acrylic and aluminium.
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Medical Applications
The most remarkable usage of goes to diverse medical and healthcare applications. It can be applied to treat and detect skin disorders. For example, certain handheld lamps with UVA bulbs are designed to small areas, such as skin lesions. Additionally, the devices can be used to detect fungal infections on animals.
Conclusion
In general, regardless of the minimal possible adverse impacts of UVA black light, its plentiful advantages, consisting of strong and stable UV light and high durability make it an optimal option in different fields. The RAT073-UV HID UV Lamp produced by Sunlonge has maximised the benefits of UVA light and carries uplifted portability. Thus, its main purposes vary from fluorescence detection to degreasing cleaning validation, displaying high flexibility.
