Photobiological Safety of light sources

Photobiological safety

In the 21st century, humanity perceives artificial light as something completely natural and compatible with our existence. Meanwhile, as a result of the growing number of environmental dangers and often dishonest producers who do not pay attention to legal regulations regarding product requirements, defined by standards, the consumer is exposed to many threats.

Both artificial and natural sources of radiation can cause photobiological hazards for the human skin and eyes.

The most common diseases include:

cataracts caused by infrared light,,
inflamed cornea caused by ultraviolet radiation,
retinitis caused by blue light,
thermal damage of the retina,
cataracts caused by ultraviolet,
erythemia caused by ultraviolet.

Photobiological Safety of light sources - an irritated eye

Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems – 4 groups of risk

The harmonized standard PN-EN 62471:2010 on the photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems distinguishes four groups of risk:

risk-free group – lamps do not pose a photobiological threat,
risk group 1 (low risk) – lamps do not cause hazard in normal conditions of use,
risk group 2 (moderate risk) – the lamps do not cause danger due to the reaction of the eye to very bright sources;
risk group 3 (high risk) – lamps pose hazards even as a result of short exposures. Using them in general lighting is not allowed.

The biological response of an organism to a radiation dose can vary. To determine the level of danger, a study should be carried out comparing two light sources. First of all, it should be examined how much more blue light, for example, emits one sample from the other at the same color temperature. Once the results of this study are known, they should be compared to the reference source and determine how much the so-called exposure dose.

Do you know that...

Do you know that photobiological security is one of the basic requirements included in European directives that must be met by a product that emits light before it is placed on the market.

Take care of the photobiological safety of your products

Having knowledge about the importance of photobiological hazards in the interest of the manufacturer or supplier is to take care of reliable research, confirming that its products are safe for customers. It is in the consumers interest to make sure that they purchase products bearing the appropriate certificates confirming that the manufacturer has carried out tests, which guarantees that the light source just purchased is not a threat to them.

Research and Development Center RCC Ltd. offers services that check whether the light sources offered by your company meet the requirements of theharmonized standard PN-EN 62471: 2010 which speaks of photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems.