Hi BLF,
I just purchased a halogen desk lamp for my room and was wondering if it was UV safe.
This report says that halogen light bulbs emit a lot of UVA, UVB, and UVC radiation so I was wondering if I should be concerned about the UV radiation.
I got this lamp: Mainstays Halogen Desk Lamp, Black - Walmart.com
I’m not sure if the front glass actually filters UV, and how would I test it?
Thanks!
Had a quick read
1. Any glass covering the lamp will reduce the UV to safe levels
2. The UV is generally only a concern for lupus patients who have some sensitivity to UV. Healthy people don’t need to worry.
You should probably worry more about those light sabres you build!! Which I want but can’t afford.
> Any glass covering the lamp will reduce the UV to safe levels
Can you tell us what source you are relying on for believing that?
I used to believe that, but then I looked it up.
Just for example:
tested various kinds of glass:
“… Laminated glass totally blocked UVA radiation, while smooth ordinary glass transmitted the highest dose (74.3). Greater thicknesses of glass implied less radiation transmitted, but without a significant difference. Green glass totally blocked UVA radiation, while blue glass transmitted the highest dose of radiation (56.8). The presence of a sunlight control film totally blocked UVA radiation. All glasses totally blocked UVB radiation.”
Now I’m just some guy you don’t know, you have no reason to trust my opinions on teh Intertubes.
But my opinion is, you can look this stuff up — and when I look stuff up, I almost always find out my opinions are based on outdated recollections of stuff I learned in the past. And that there’s new information since the last time I learned about it.
So my suggestion is:
Look it up: at least, use Google, and Google Scholar:
https://www.google.com/search?q=halogen+desk+lamp+ultraviolet
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=halogen+desk+lamp+ultraviolet
turns up, for example, this actual test:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1751-1097.2004.tb00048.x/abstract
“… studies of quartz halogen lamps have suggested that users might sustain UVC-induced injury. Examination of light sources in the home and school of a child with xeroderma pigmentosum revealed that several different types emitted surprising levels of UV. Our purpose was to assess the extent of UV emissions from a variety of commonly used light sources to identify potential dermatological risks. UV and visible spectral emissions of commercially obtained lamps of several types were measured using a calibrated spectral radiometer traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Indoor light sources including fluorescent, quartz halogen and even tungsten filament incandescent lamps provided UVA, UVB and sometimes UVC emissions. Intensities of some emissions were of similar magnitude to those in sunlight. Chronic exposure to indoor lighting may deliver unexpected cumulative UV exposure to the skin and eyes. Patients with UV-exacerbated dermatoses should be cautioned about potential adverse reactions from indoor lighting.”
Dermatological Risk of Indoor Ultraviolet Exposure from Contemporary Lighting Sources¶†‡§
30 APR 2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.2004.tb00048.x
Hmmm.
So, who makes the lamp you have on your desk?
Do you trust the manufacturer?
How close is your face to the light?
When you roll your eyes toward it, are you seeing the bright light from it directly, looking inside the shade?
Thanks for your response Aeou and Hank.
It’s made in China (what isn’t?) and I don’t trust the manufacturer. I think I might look into a proper UV filter for the front glass or a proper UV-shielded halogen bulb. (G8 35W 120V)
The light source is about 1.5ft from the desk. I made a lamp shade that it doesn’t hit my eyes at all but my arms are exposed to the light. Am I just paranoid? haha.
Just think: In the winter, your arms will be getting a tan.
I would get a good glass filter, but I would not unduly worry about it. Yes, its not too good for your health, but there are probably bigger safety concerns elsewhere in your life.
off topic: How was your move to pittsburgh?
some measurements, fairly old paper
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199202133260718
an amazingly thorough workup, recent paper, if you find the science interesting:
If you do take care of yourself, you’ll find some information there worth knowing about.
What we know now — this is news since I was a young person — is that early protection from UV is important, because early exposure causes the damage that shows up later in life. When will that be proven? Ask again in, oh, maybe 50 years, when you’re the age I am now.
I grew up with “sun tan oil” and lots of UV exposure. Back then “dark glasses” made your pupils open wider without blocking out much of the ultraviolet — they actually increased the amount of UV reaching the eye, rather than protected you. Hey, who knew, we were young and invulnerable, and besides there was Khrushchev pounding the table at the U.N. threatening to H-bomb us all ….
“What, me worry?” was our motto.
On me, that showed up in skin damage and early cataracts.
Best wishes for that. Like the man said, fasten your seat belt, and don’t play with guns while drunk — avoid the big risks too.
Pictures may be more convincing than words: skin
http://www.skin-care-forum.basf.com/en/author-articles/the-uv-age-a-measure-of-lifetime-sun-exposure/2013/02/14?id=4a9cba10-b727-42b1-8049-73c79d1ae777&mode=Detail
and for eyes, also, early exposure is the risky time of life for damage that appears later; see Fig. 3 on p.6 of this PDF, captioned
Fig. 3. Interaction of UV radiation and infrared radiation with the human eye (all age
Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 30 (2011) 239-257
Light-emitting diodes (LED) for domestic lighting: Any risks for the eye?
Yeah, I don’t think halogen lamps are a significant source of concern as I haven’t heard of UV problems with these lamps before.
As for my trip to Pittsburgh, it went pretty well! Thanks for asking. I did bring all my modding equipment so I’ll be able to continue modding lights given that I have some spare time. 
Hank, thanks for the links. Seems like they exhibit significantly less damaging UV rays compared to the sun:
I do like incandescent lamps because they provide 100CRI and gives a nice and warm feeling compared to fluorescent ones or LED’s. I guess running around outdoors is more hazardous in terms of UV radiation compared to a desk lamp.
I have… and frankly, I’d avoid them. I’ve done some work with museum lighting and saw some test data on halogens and CFLs. Those small halogen bulbs can be particularly nasty, particularly when used a couple feet from your body. Same for cheap CFLs. All the bulbs in my house are now LED…
Halogens and CFLs can be safe. Or not. You’ll never know without doing some expensive testing. Why risk it?
Interesting thread. I still use some halogen bulbs but they are much lower wattage (5-20W) and I don’t spend much time in such close proximity. I always found halogen lamps difficult to sit next to.
These halogen heaters must put out a lot of UV:
I’ve always had bad experiences with indoor LED lights which is weird as all if not most of our flashlights are LED’s because of PWM and bad CRI.
I’m not sure if my tiny halogen bulb is doped quartz, and I’m not sure if the front glass is UV filtered because it has no labeling. Other halogen lamps seem to have glass with labeled UV filters.