noushin nasiri , university of technology sydney
ultraviolet radiation is the highest-energy component of the sun’s rays that reach the earth’s surface. uv light stimulates the synthesis of vitamin d, which is an essential compound for growth of bones and teeth, as well as improved resistance against certain diseases.
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but according to the australian radiation protection and nuclear safety agency ( arpansa ), the uv emissions from most indoor light sources, including fluorescent lights, are below the approved australian limits. this means they won’t cause any risk to health for normal people, if we use them properly.
the emissions from all sources of light decrease rapidly with distance. at a typical use distance (more than 25cm), the uv light emitted from fluorescent lights falls below the level of general concern for healthy individuals.
the only exception is a medical condition that makes you particularly sensitive to uv light. the vast majority of people do not suffer from such uv or visible light sensitivities.
compare this to the permissible exposure limits (pels) in typical midday summer sunshine, which is six minutes in brisbane and seven minutes in sydney and melbourne.
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the uv level absorbed by our skin after eight hours’ exposure to indoor lights, at a typical use distance (25cm), would be
equivalent to just over a minute of midday solar exposure
on a clear summer day in a city such as sydney or melbourne. this shows the risk to us is very small indeed.
this article is republished from the conversation under a creative commons license. read the original article .