TECHNICAL BULLETIN

#32
WHAT IS ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT?
Ultraviolet light, or more correctly, ultraviolet radiation is a form of energy that occupies a small portion of the electro-
magnetic radiation spectrum (see chart below). This spectrum ranges from the highest energy (shortest wavelength)
cosmic rays to the lowest energy (longest wavelength) radio waves. Ultraviolet radiation is produced by many natural and
artificial sources and often accompanies visible light.
Electromagnetic radiation is usually characterized by wavelength and is expressed in terms of nanometers (10
-9
m), often
abbreviated as nm. Wavelength has also been commonly measured in terms of millimicrometers or millimicrons (m ) and
earlier in Angstrom Units (A

U).
10 A

U = 1 nm = 1m
The ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum has been commonly divided into three regions:
The SHORT WAVELENGTH region, also known as far ultraviolet, germicidal or UV-C, extends from 180-280nm. Although
it has little penetrating power, short wave UV can cause severe burns to the eyes and skin. When short wave UV affects
the eyes, the discomfort is commonly known as welders flash or ground glass eyeball. The usual artificial sources of this
radiation are low pressure, mercury vapor lamps (and certain other metal vapor lamps) used in UV sterilization,
chromatography, mineralogy, EPROM erasing, photochemical reactions, etc.
The MEDIUM WAVELENGTH region, also known as middle ultraviolet, erythemal or UV-B, extends from 280-320nm. It has
high penetrating power and can seriously burn the eyes and skin. The usual artificial sources of this radiation are sun
lamps used for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes and vitamin production.
The LONG WAVELENGTH region, also known as near ultraviolet, black light, Woods light or UV-A, extends from 320-
400nm. A portion of the population is overly sensitive to radiation in this region of the spectrum and may experience adverse
effects. For example, some people experience blue haze interference when viewing sources of long wave UV due to the
fluorescent effects in the ocular media. The usual artificial sources of this radiation are low and medium pressure mercury
vapor lamps used in nondestructive testing, quality control inspection, leak detection, medical diagnosis, UV curing,
general fluorescence analysis, etc.
THE ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION SPECTRUM
C O S M I C R AYS
V
I
S
I
B
L
E
U LT R A -
VI O L E T
R A D I O WAVE S I N F R A R E D X-R AYS G A M M A R AYS
U V-C
WO O D 'S
L I G H T
M E D I U M
WAVE
L O N G
WAVE
B L A C K
L I G H T
S U N
TA N
S H O R T WAVE
G E R M I C I D A L
U V-A U V-B
1 8 0
4 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
4 0 0 3 6 5 3 2 0 3 0 0 2 8 0 2 5 4 2 0 0 n m o r m
U n its
WAVE L E N G T H
{
1 0 0
VA C U U M
U V
7/01 A87057-4
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Recycled
Paper