Specialty and Architectural Lighting — Health

Have you ever wondered why your eyes and head sometimes hurt after sitting in your office for awhile? Look up at the lights for a possible answer. You may not notice anything other than a fluorescent fixture. But what's happening inside the fluorescent tubes is fluctuating light output. Input power frequency variations inherent in the relationship between the magnetic ballast and the lamps cause the fluctuations. The pulse is too rapid for most people to...

Everyone knows that the only thing more annoying than sitting in an office without a window is sitting in an office with a window in a cold, featureless basement after being demoted. And not surprisingly, the government has made it a practice of shunting inconvenient employees into windowless, basement offices. But is a windowless office a greater health hazard than even an overly-talkative co-worker? Recent studies suggest yes. A team made up of architects and...

While summer is fast approaching in the US, Canada, Europe, and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere, the other half of the globe is entering its colder, darker months. And with less sunlight means more risk of being sad and getting SAD, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD was first named in the early 1980s and has become widely recognized as a seasonal mood disorder that is a form of depression. About 70-80% of...

The idea that light can have a biological effect on humans first appeared with research on Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). People living in northern parts of the U.S., where hours of daylight are significantly reduced in winter months, reported tired, depression-like symptoms. When sufferers of SAD made an effort to get least 20 minutes a day of daylight in the morning, they reported improved symptoms. Even being exposed to electric light with full spectrum characteristics,...

For some people, the seasonal onset of fewer hours of daylight means dealing with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Since the early 1970's when some initial research was done, many studies have confirmed that, in some people, there is a bio-chemical connection between exposure to daylight and depression. The Science of SAD The optic nerve carries light into the brain for visual processing. It also takes a turn into the hypothalmus - specifically, into a region...

For you and me, the number of hours during summer, winter, autumn and spring might not make any difference at all. Daylight hours can be much longer than night hours, as happens during certain times of the year. But believe it or not, some people actually suffer because of the lesser daylight hours. Fewer daylight hours gives them something called seasonal affective disorder or SAD for short. It is a type of depression. SAD affects...

Interest in indoor air quality in public buildings such as offices, schools and other institutions has increased as the demand for lower energy consuming buildings has resulted in tighter building envelopes that reduce uncontrolled leakage of heated or cooled air. Tight buildings place a premium on the importance of ventilation. When air change rates and air filters are not adequate, the chance of health impacts on occupants increases. Indoor Pollutants Tight buildings can save energy....

Blacklights are not merely for special effects and lighting up cool posters. They also have an important clinical use by veterinarians. These bulbs are very common for diagnosing ringworm in cats, dogs, and other animals. The most common tool veterinarians use to diagnose ringworm on pets is a Wood's Lamp, which is another name for the common blacklight bulb with a blue filter. According to Wikipedia, Wood's lamps have been used since 1925 to detect...

Most of the impact of ultraviolet disinfection is in the UV-C range. UV-B has a much lower lethality rate for microbes than UV-C. However, a phenomenon called "photoreactivation" can impact disinfection. And UV-B can help prevent photoreactivation of pathogens. What Is Photoreactivation? Photoreactivation is the process whereby microorganisms are exposed to light in the visible spectrum after exposure to ultraviolet germicidal irradiation and begin to repair themselves. Photoreactivation can lead to a portion of the...

Over the last 6-8 months, the use of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation to combat pathogens, specifically COVID-19, has skyrocketed in popularity. Many homeowners, businesses, schools, and government institutions have purchased UV disinfection devices for air, surface, and water sanitation. But while COVID-19 has been an unintentional pandemic, the risk for bioterrorism using a transmissible pathogen has existed for decades. There are hundreds of bacteria, viruses, mold, and fungi that cause adverse reactions in humans and animals....

Schools are attempting to figure out how to reopen to the public in the fall. From daycare and kindergartens, to junior and high schools, to colleges and universities, students and parents are going to expect a higher level of cleanliness. Unfortunately, pandemics do not end in a matter of months, and the COVID-19 coronavirus may not going away anytime soon. Schools will implement new practices, procedures, and technology to combat the virus. One of these...

Large naval vessels are compact environments where microbes can thrive, circulating through the ventilation system. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVC) lighting systems can reduce incidence of harmful bacteria and viruses, and mitigate the risk of respiratory and airborne illnesses spreading throughout a navy vessel, cruise ship, yacht, or smaller boat.

One of the concerns about reopening the economy is that, if large gatherings are allowed again, the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus may spread rapidly. This is a legitimate concern as historical outbreaks of serious or deadly diseases have occurred in places of large assembly where one person exposed an entire population. But with the greater awareness of sanitizing air and surfaces, UVC lighting systems can provide some protection and mitigate the risks of allowing public...

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, hospitals and medical professionals have begun using ultraviolet germicidal UVC light more than ever before. Learn about the options the medical industry has for disinfecting air, stopping the spread of germs, and disinfecting patient rooms with ultraviolet light.

One small positive of the coronavirus outbreak and response is the increasing awareness of people of the effects of ultraviolet UVC germicidal light on viruses, bacteria, mold, and fungi. This article examines the harmful microorganisms commonly found in homes, as well as UVC solutions for sanitizing air and surfaces.