Undoubtedly, unprotected exposure to the sun's UV rays is the No. 1 cause of skin cancer in the U. S. Department of State every year.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), indoor tanning can cause up to 400,000 cases of skin cancer annually. One of the 13 myths about sunburn that damages the skin is to believe that a tanning bed is safer than the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of non-ionizing radiation emitted by both natural and artificial sources, such as tanning beds. While it has some benefits for people, including creating vitamin D, it can also cause health risks.
The type of UV radiation that these bulbs emit is directed to the DNA of microorganisms, causing cell death or making reproduction impossible. Any exposure to UV-C light is dangerous, and UV-C lights should only be used in a completely sealed unit. However, it's important to know that the sun is far from the only source of harmful UV light that exists. A light blue-black bulb (BLB) won't help you kill flies, just as a germicidal UV tube won't help you detect counterfeit bank notes. UVC rays have more energy than other types of UV rays, explains the American Cancer Society, and the World Health Organization (WHO) calls UVC “the most harmful type of UV radiation.” While BLB bulbs are not as hazardous to health as germicidal UVC bulbs, they should always be handled with care. The following table shows the respective wavelengths (in nm) produced by the different types of UV lamps and their location in the UV spectrum:
- Blacklight Blue (BLB): Wavelengths between 370 and 400 nm
- Blacklight (BL36): Wavelengths between 370 and 400 nm
- Germicidal: Wavelengths between 370 and 400 nm
With that in mind, it's important to understand which type of UV bulb is right for you and your household. It's often referred to as ultraviolet “light,” but UV radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation with shorter wavelengths than visible light and longer than X-rays. Knowing which type of UV bulb is right for your household can help you protect yourself from potential health risks associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The three main types of household UV light sources are blacklight blue (BLB), blacklight (BL36), and germicidal UVC bulbs.
BLB bulbs emit wavelengths between 370 and 400 nanometers (nm), while BL36 bulbs emit wavelengths between 370 and 400 nm. Germicidal UVC bulbs emit wavelengths between 200 and 300 nm. BLB bulbs are typically used for decorative purposes such as lighting up fluorescent posters or creating special effects in nightclubs. They are not as hazardous to health as germicidal UVC bulbs, but they should still be handled with care.
BL36 bulbs are used for a variety of purposes such as detecting counterfeit bank notes or killing flies. They emit wavelengths between 370 and 400 nm, which makes them less hazardous than germicidal UVC bulbs. Germicidal UVC bulbs are used for disinfecting surfaces or air in hospitals or other medical facilities. They emit wavelengths between 200 and 300 nm, which makes them more hazardous than other types of UV light sources.
It's important to understand which type of UV bulb is right for your household in order to protect yourself from potential health risks associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation. BLB bulbs are typically used for decorative purposes while BL36 bulbs are used for detecting counterfeit bank notes or killing flies. Germicidal UVC bulbs should only be used in a completely sealed unit due to their high level of danger.
