Occupant UV exposure measurements for upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation

Details

• Personal Author:
  McDevitt J ; Milonova S ; Nardell E ; Rudnick S
• Description:
  The threshold limit value (TLV) guideline for ultraviolet (UV) radiation specifies that irradiance measurements to ensure occupant safety be taken over an angle of 80 degrees at the sensor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of an 80 degrees field of view (FOV) tube on lower room UV-C irradiation measurements. Measurements were made in an experimental chamber at a height of 1.73m with and without an FOV tube. The FOV tube reduced the lower room irradiance readings by 18-34%, a statistically significant reduction compared to the bare sensor. An 80 degrees FOV tube should be used for lower room irradiance measurements to comply with the TLV guideline. The resulting lower readings would allow more UV-C radiation in the upper room without compromising occupant safety. More UV-C radiation in the upper room could increase efficacy of UVGI systems for reducing transmission of airborne infectious diseases. In addition, recommendations are made to standardize lower room irradiance measurement techniques. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Microbiology Occupational Health Radiation Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation Exposure Levels Germicides Occupant Safety Measurements Pharmacology Radiation Effects Threshold Limit Value Threshold Limit Values TLV Ultraviolet Light
• ISSN:
  1011-1344
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  88-92
• Volume:
  159
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049379
• Citation:
  J Photochem Photobiol B 2016 Jun; 159:88-92
• Contact Point Address:
  Sonya Milonova, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115
• Email:
  sonya.milonova@gmail.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Performing Organization:
  Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20060801
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology
• End Date:
  20170731
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:19a33f2e0a916e42946b71463a55c79a1d794e796f8f40c23aed9527f017c6ea388a958dbf9abcd5041efb192349507c8f757a7c86e0cf27a0e5ed5c03499f3b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/203841/cdc_203841_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 469.31 KB ]