"Ultraviolet light" generally refers to electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the range of 10 to 400 nanometers. This is subdivided into:
There seems to be some disagreement on exactly how the spectrum is broken down. http://hps.org/hpspublications/articles/uv.html says: UVA (320-400 nm), UVB (290-320), UVC (220-290 nm), Far UV (190-220 nm), Vacuum UV (40-190 nm). Since the numbers aren't far off, we need not quibble.
Non-haunt uses of UV light include:
We devote an entire page to generating and projecting black light.
We tend to think of UV-A as "safe", but this is only relative.
According to http://hps.org/hpspublications/articles/uv.html
... overexposure to UV-A has been associated with toughening of the skin, suppression of the immune system, and cataract formation. ...The photochemical effects of UV radiation can be exacerbated by chemical agents including birth control pills, tetracycline, sulphathizole, cyclamates, antidepressants, coal tar distillates found in antidandruff shampoos, lime oil, and some cosmetics. Protection from UV is provided by clothing, polycarbonate, glass, acrylics, and plastic diffusers used in office lighting. Sun-blocking lotions offer limited protection against UV exposure.
I consider the eyes to be the most important part of the body to protect from UV. Yes, UV can damage skin, but the eyes are most sensitive, and you only get one set.
Keys to safe use of UV are:
The place to watch out is with oddball surplus equipment that might have been designed with germicidal or other purposes in mind!
Avoid UV lamps designed for rock-hunting; many minerals fluoresce under short-wave UV, and rock lamps are designed accordingly (some are switchable between long and short wave).
Never use unknown or suspect UV lamps for entertainment.
WARNING: Just because a light source is UV-A does not mean that it is completely safe. It just means that it is safer than the really nasty flavors of UV. UV-A can still cause damage and must be used judiciously.
Staring at a simple incandescent lamp will make you see spots for a few seconds. You can cause eye damage with "safe" wavelengths if the light is intense or the exposure long.
The problem with UV light is that you can't see it, so you don't say, "gee, that's bright, I'll look away." Instead, you see either nothing, or the dim glow of whatever non-UV that the lamp emits as a side-effect.
If you have actors in a scene illuminated with black light, consider giving them sunglasses with UV protection. I'm sure you can figure out a way to work them into the scene; a vampire wearing stylish sunglasses sounds reasonable to me.
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection:
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