Health Effects Of UV CCFL

[Rondog]

UV cathode tubes. A lot of people use them.
UV.
Ultra Violet light.
ITS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE HARMFUL RAYS EMMITED BY THE SUN THAT CAUSE SKIN CANCER.
I sit in front of two 15cm UV tubes every time I use the computer. Am I gonna get skin cancer?

NOTE: Theres a 5mm sheet of perspex between me and the tubes.

[GrahamGarside]

I doubt it's of an intensity high enough to even give you a tan let alone cause cancer.

[dsio]

LOL, better wear some sunblock and Zinc mate!

No, you see UV light isnt UV light. It is a band of light frequencey in the Ultra Violet range. There are several types of UV light. The UV in black lights is called UVA. UVA is a form that is not harmfull to human skin (well no more harmfull than a computer monitor). UVB on the other hand, is extremely harmfull to human skin.

UVA is the best type for exciting "phosphors", the particles that convert energy into a form of visible light.

UV photons hit the phosphores and are converted, creating something we can see, so they use phosphorus paint and inks to create UV reactive substances. Interestingly, the first UV reactive painting was done using human piss, which does a great job. So if you want a really good glow from your watercooling system, fill it up with your own urine and watch it go. Garunteed less algae too.

So, no. Dont worry. Something else is going to kill you, not the UV CCFLs.

[GrahamGarside]

And it's sterile.

[Rondog]

Originally Posted by dsio

LOL, better wear some sunblock and Zinc mate!

No, you see UV light isnt UV light. It is a band of light frequencey in the Ultra Violet range. There are several types of UV light. The UV in black lights is called UVA. UVA is a form that is not harmfull to human skin (well no more harmfull than a computer monitor). UVB on the other hand, is extremely harmfull to human skin.

UVA is the best type for exciting "phosphors", the particles that convert energy into a form of visible light.

UV photons hit the phosphores and are converted, creating something we can see, so they use phosphorus paint and inks to create UV reactive substances. Interestingly, the first UV reactive painting was done using human piss, which does a great job. So if you want a really good glow from your watercooling system, fill it up with your own urine and watch it go. Garunteed less algae too.

So, no. Dont worry. Something else is going to kill you, not the UV CCFLs.

Your disgusting dsio!

Were CRT screens harmful? I never knew this. What about LCD's?

[Rondog]

Thanks for the info just the same.

[dsio]

Not really, but there is some radiation. With mobile phones, TVs, pets, and especially fluoro overhead lights, which are in every school, workplace, and home.

[Rondog]

You learn something everyday.

Pets!! How do they emit radiation? Fart gas isnt radiation is it??

[dsio]

Everything emits radiation, some things more than you would imagine, some things less than you imagine.

I have a set of dishes and glasses here, that have uranium in them. They are actually radioactive. Just not to any even remotely harmfull level. But they do glow green.

Have a look here if you are interested: http://www.parkcity.ne.jp/~ken-toma/

Pets, and human beings emit radiation in spades. Just nothing really harmfull or in great amounts. It is detectable though.

[Rondog]

That is really cool!

How much were the glasses, if you dont me asking.

[dsio]

No idea really. They were bought at a garage sale here for about $200 but are supposedly extremely expensive. I have never seen them advertised or available for sale anywhere so I couldnt say.

[Rondog]

$50 a glass on eBay.

[dsio]

Interesting. These ones have the word "Revee" and a crown moulded into the base of them with "England 1934" on the bottom of some and "England 1951" on others. The set is 4 wine glasses, 4 shot glasses, 4 small plates, 4 large plates, 1 vase, and one liquor jug with stopper. The shotglasses and the liquor jog have 1951 on them, the rest says 1934.

Extremely beautiful though. Only one is damaged, the liquor jug stopper has a crack in it, but hasnt actually broken, its just visible inside it. Would love to have them valued some day.

[Rondog]

Is it still produced or has it been deemed to dangerous?

[dsio]

Still made from what I have heard. Its not dangerous at all really. Uranium oxide, which this is made of is pretty tame. Wouldnt like to be around it 24/7, but its a reasonable hazard.

[Rondog]

Ahh OK. I see now. I think it would be so expensive because of the danger in making it. Even if they use Uranium Oxide. It would still cause problem with prolonged exposure, without adequate shielding.

[robbie]

Originally Posted by Rondog

UV cathode tubes. A lot of people use them.
UV.
Ultra Violet light.
ITS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE HARMFUL RAYS EMMITED BY THE SUN THAT CAUSE SKIN CANCER.
I sit in front of two 15cm UV tubes every time I use the computer. Am I gonna get skin cancer?

NOTE: Theres a 5mm sheet of perspex between me and the tubes.

My computer sits on the floor near my legs. Guess I got's to check and see if my legs are a little "tanner" than my thigh!!!

[Aedan]

Originally Posted by dsio

The UV in black lights is called UVA. UVA is a form that is not harmfull to human skin (well no more harmfull than a computer monitor). UVB on the other hand, is extremely harmfull to human skin.

UVC is the one you really want to avoid, but doesn't make it to the Earth. You're unlikely to have any device that generates much of this. UVB has definately been linked to skin cancer, but there's also a body of evidence that suggests that UVA is not without blame either.

In terms of damage to skin, unless you're noticing you're picking up a tan from your UV, then it's not such a big issue. However, it's not good to look directly at a UV source, as it can cause damage to cornea and the conjunctiva. UVA is known to cause inflamation of these parts of the eye.

[cadaveca]

DSIO...those glasses...uranium glasses...dude...

if those said 1834, instead of 1934...depression era U-glass is not worth much, if the colour is dark green. there are some fine glassware out there that have a pale green colour but glow like the dickens...these are worth a penny or two, but not as much as you's think.


on topic, most side-windows has UV sheliding on the plastic. it's only really really cheap cases that do not use this sort of plastic in the window, as otherwise the plastic would haze and crack over time.

THe whole thing is very art-deco, but if you happen on a japanese collector, and havethe right stuff, you can make a killing on it.

[dsio]

The colour on the 1934 ones is very dark green, and no they dont have much of a glow. The shot glasses and liquor bottle are a different tint, much more yellowy, and glow very brightly. Those are the newer ones as well. They are definately interesting things to serve people with though. The uranium adds a little something extra to bourbon