ICNIRP GUIDELINES
INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION ON NON-IONIZING RADIATION PROTECTIONICNIRP GUIDELINESON LIMITS OF EXPOSURE TO ULTRAVIOLETRADIATION OF WAVELENGTHS BETWEEN180 nm AND 400 nm (INCOHERENT OPTICALRADIATION)PUBLISHED IN: HEALTH PHYSICS 87(2):171-186; 2004ICNIRP PUBLICATION – 2004
ICNIRP GuidelinesGUIDELINES ON LIMITS OF EXPOSURE TO ULTRAVIOLETRADIATION OF WAVELENGTHS BETWEEN 180 NM AND 400NM (INCOHERENT OPTICAL RADIATION)The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection*INTRODUCTIONradiation, so that they may serve as guidance to thevarious international and national bodies or individualexperts who are responsible for the development ofregulations, recommendations, or codes of practice toprotect workers and the general public from the potentially adverse effects of UVR.The Committee recognized that when standards orexposure limits (ELs) are established, various valuejudgments are made. The validity of scientific reports hasto be considered, and extrapolations from animal experiments to effects on humans have to be made. Costs vs.benefit analyses are necessary, including economic impact of controls. The limits in these guidelines werebased on the scientific data, and no consideration wasgiven to economic impact or other non-scientific priorities. However, the limits represent conditions underwhich it is expected that nearly all individuals may berepeatedly exposed without acute adverse effects and,based upon best available evidence, without noticeablerisk of delayed effects (see paragraph on Special Considerations). Although a single set of limits can apply forexposure of the eye, it is not possible to provide a singleexposure limit that applies to all skin phototypes. Additional guidance is required for applying guidelines forskin protection.ICNIRP Subcommittee IV (Optical Radiation) prepared the initial update of these guidelines after anextensive review of the current scientific evidence. TheIRPA Associate Societies as well as a number of competent institutions and individual experts were consultedin the preparation of the guidelines and their cooperationis gratefully acknowledged.In its review of the whole database, ICNIRP noted thata substantial number of studies have been published since1989, when the last detailed rationale for the guidelines waspublished, and since the UNEP/ICNIRP/WHO EHC waspublished in 1994. Many of the biological effects, whereonly tentative data were available in 1994, have now beenclarified. In particular, the understanding of UVA-induceddamage to DNA by indirect mechanisms, the involvementSINCE THE publication of the ICNIRP Guidelines on UVRadiation Limits (ICNIRP 1996),† recent research hasmade it appropriate to update the guidelines for protection. While no significant changes are made in the values,the biological basis can be strengthened, and the limitations on use can be clarified.A document titled Environmental Health Criteria160, Ultraviolet Radiation (UNEP 1994), was publishedin 1994 under the joint sponsorship of the United NationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP), ICNIRP, and theWorld Health Organization (WHO). The document contains a review of the biological effects reported fromexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and serves as thescientific rationale for the development of these guidelines. In addition, the International Agency for CancerResearch (IARC) published a monograph on UVR in1992 (IARC 1992) and published a monograph onsunscreens more recently (IARC/WHO 2001). Furthermore, the National Radiological Protection Board(NRPB) has recently published a scientific review of thehealth effects of UVR (NRPB 2002). Reviews of relevantUVR biological action spectra were published in amonograph on the measurement of optical radiationhazards (ICNIRP/CIE 1998). The important publicationsthat relate most directly to the guidelines [some of whichhave appeared since the Environmental Health Criteria(EHC) document was drafted] are referenced in therationale (Appendix).The purpose of these guidelines is to provide basicprinciples of protection against non-coherent ultraviolet* ICNIRP, c/o BfS—R. Matthes, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, 85764Oberschleissheim, Germany.†The initial guidelines were published in Health Phys 49:331–340; 1985, amended in Health Phys 56:971–972; 1989, and reconfirmed by ICNIRP in Health Phys 71:978; 1996.For correspondence or reprints contact: R. Matthes at the aboveaddress or email at info@icnirp.org.(Manuscript received 5 February 2004; accepted 30 April 2004)0017-9078/04/0Copyright 2004 Health Physics Society171
172Health PhysicsAugust 2004, Volume 87, Number 2of new mechanisms for cell protection against the harmfuleffects of photosensitized reactions, and the participation ofUVA in the chain of events believed to play a role inmelanocytic and non-melanocytic skin cancer provide abetter understanding of the risk of human exposure to UVR.There is further evidence for the importance of early life(childhood and adolescence) irradiation for melanocyticskin cancer (IARC/WHO 2001) and probably for basal cellcarcinoma (Kricker et al. 1995; Gallagher et al. 1995a, b).There has been significant improvement in the understanding of the complex chain of events involved in photocarcinogenesis, e.g., the discovery of a UVR signature at themolecular level (i.e., the p53 gene mutation) (Mukhtar andElmets 1996; IARC 1992). Progress has also been made instandardizing several action spectra including those forphotocarcinogenesis and erythema by the InternationalCommission on Illumination (CIE 1999, 2000, 2002).It was noted, however, that a number of issues stillneed further research before a more complete health riskassessment can be made. These include the modulationof the immune system by both UVA and UVB and theirinteraction with several chromophores; the apparent roleof UVA in the development of melanocytic skin cancer;and the role of both UVA and UVB in the developmentof different types of cataract (UNEP 1994). The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of theWHO recently reviewed the impact of sunscreens(IARC/WHO 2001).ICNIRP concludes that, while significant clarificationhas occurred with respect to health risk assessment fromexposure to UVR, recent data do not provide any resultssuggesting that the exposure limit values contained in Table1 of the 1989 guidelines need to be amended. This conclusion is supported by a review conducted by the NationalRadiological Protection Board (NRPB 2002). Thus, ICNIRP reaffirms the 1989 guidelines on exposure limits toUVR as valid for current use. ICNIRP will continue tomonitor the scientific literature and amend the guidelines onexposure limits as necessary.BACKGROUNDUltraviolet radiation (UVR) occupies that portion ofthe electromagnetic spectrum from at least 100 to 400nanometers (nm). In discussing UVR biological effects,the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) hasTable 1. UV exposure limits and spectral weighting function.a a (nm)ELd(J m 2)ELd(mJ cm 2)S( )b a(nm)ELd(J m 2)ELd(mJ cm 2)S( 803853903954002,0005,0001.0 1041.3 1041.5 1041.9 1042.5 1042.9 1044.5 1045.6 1046.0 1046.8 1047.3 1048.1 1048.8 1041.1 1051.3 1051.5 1051.9 1052.3 1052.7 1053.2 1053.9 1054.7 1055.7 1056.8 1058.3 1051.0 1062005001.0 1031.3 1031.5 1031.9 1032.5 1032.9 1034.5 1035.6 1036.0 1036.8 1037.3 1038.1 1038.8 1031.1 1041.3 1041.5 1041.9 1042.3 1042.7 1043.2 1043.9 1044.7 1045.7 1046.8 1048.3 1041.0 engths chosen are representative; other values should be interpolated (see Eqns. 2a– c).Relative spectral effectiveness.cEmission lines of a mercury discharge spectrum.dEL for a monochromatic source, but also limited by a dose-rate of 10 kW m 2 (1 W cm 2) for durations greater than 1 s as well inorder to preclude thermal effects.b
Guidelines on limits of exposure to UV radiation ICNIRPdivided the UV spectrum into three bands. The band 315to 380 – 400 nm is designated as UVA, 280 to 315 nm asUVB, and 100 to 280 nm as UVC (CIE 1987, 1999).Wavelengths below 180 nm (vacuum UV) are of littlepractical biologic significance since they are readilyabsorbed in air. Ultraviolet radiation is used in a widevariety of medical and industrial processes and forcosmetic purposes. These include photocuring of inksand plastics (UVA and UVB), photoresist processes (allUV), solar simulation (all UV), cosmetic tanning (UVAand UVB), fade testing (UVA and UVB), dermatology(all UV), and dentistry (UVA). Even though the principaloperating wavelengths for most of these processes are inthe UVA, almost always some shorter wavelength (UVBand UVC) radiation and violet light are emitted as well.Many industrial applications employ arc sources for heator light (e.g., welding), which also produce UVR as anunwanted admixture for which control measures may benecessary. While it is generally agreed that some lowlevel exposure to UVR benefits health (UNEP 1994;Preece et al. 1975; Clemens et al. 1982; Holick 2000;Webb et al. 1988, 1989; MacLaughlin and Holick 1985),there are adverse effects (de Gruijl 1997; UNEP 1994;ICNIRP/CIE 1998) that necessitate the development anduse of ELs for UVR. However, the development of UVREL poses a real challenge to achieve a realistic balancebetween beneficial and adverse health effects.Until 1980, it was generally thought that the mostsignificant adverse UVR health effects resulted fromexposures at wavelengths below 315 nm; but today theseeffects are recognized to be produced at longer wavelengths (UVA) at substantially higher doses. At one time,wavelengths below 315 nm were collectively known as“actinic radiation,” when it was thought that these effectsoccurred only in the UVB and UVC. This guideline hasbeen limited to wavelengths greater than 180 nm whereUVR is transmitted through air. The most restrictivelimits are for exposure to radiation having those wavelengths less than 315 nm.PURPOSE AND SCOPEThe purpose of this document is to provide guidanceon maximal limits of exposure to UVR in the spectralregion between 180 nm and 400 nm. The limits representconditions under which it is expected that nearly allindividuals may be repeatedly exposed without acuteadverse effects and, based upon best available evidence,without noticeable risk of delayed effects (see paragraphon Special Considerations). These EL values for exposure of the eye or the skin may be used to evaluatepotentially hazardous exposure from UVR; e.g., from173arcs, gas and vapor discharges, fluorescent lamps, incandescent sources, and solar radiation. The limits do notapply to lasers that emit UVR. Most incoherent UVRsources are broadband, although single emission linescan be produced from low-pressure gas discharges.These values should be used as guides in the control ofexposure to both pulsed and continuous sources wherethe exposure duration is not less than 1 s. These ELs arebelow levels that would be used for UV exposures ofpatients required as a part of medical treatment or forelective cosmetic purposes. These ELs are exceeded forexposed skin by noonday summer sunlight overhead at0 – 40 latitude within 5–10 min. The ELs should beconsidered absolute limits for direct exposure of the eyeand “advisory” for skin exposure because of the widerange of susceptibility to skin injury depending on skintype. The ELs should be adequate to protect lightlypigmented individuals.BASIC CONCEPTSThis document makes use of the spectral banddesignations of the CIE. Unless otherwise stated, UVA isfrom 315 to 400 nm, UVB is from 280 to 315 nm, andUVC is from 100 to 280 nm (CIE 1984, 1987). It shouldbe noted that some specialists follow this general schemebut take the dividing line between UVA and UVB at 320nm. The UVR exposure should be quantified in terms ofan irradiance E (W m 2 or W cm 2) for continuousexposure or in terms of a radiant exposure H (J m 2 or Jcm 2) for time-limited (or pulsed) exposures of the eyeand skin. The geometry of exposure to UVR is veryimportant. For example, the eyes (and to a lesser extentthe skin) are anatomically protected against UVR exposure from overhead sources such as the sun overhead(Sliney 1995; UNEP 1994). The limits should be appliedto exposure directed perpendicular to those surfaces ofthe body facing the radiation source, measured with aninstrument having cosine angular response (UNEP1994). For highly non-uniform irradiation the irradianceand radiant exposure need not be averaged over the areaof a circular measurement aperture smaller than 1 mm indiameter for pulsed exposures and 3.5 mm for lengthyexposures.These ELs should be used as guides in the control ofexposure to UV sources and as such are intended aslimits for non-therapeutic and non-elective exposure. TheELs should be considered as absolute limits for ocularexposure. The ELs were developed by consideringlightly pigmented populations (i.e., white Caucasian)with greatest sensitivity and genetic predisposition forskin cancer. Exposure during sun bathing and tanningunder artificial sources may well exceed these limits but
174Health Physicsexposed individuals should be advised that some healthrisk is incurred from such activity. Eye protection isalways required during therapeutic exposures. Nevertheless, occasional exposures to conditioned skin may notresult in adverse effects. The rationale for the UVRexposure limits is provided in the Appendix.EXPOSURE LIMITSFor the EL for both general and occupational exposure to UVR incident upon the skin or eye within an 8-hperiod, the following applies.Exposure of the eyesUltraviolet radiant exposure in the spectral region180 to 400 nm incident upon the unprotected eye(s)should not exceed 30 J m 2 effective spectrally weightedusing the spectral weighting factors contained in Table 1,and the total (unweighted) ultraviolet radiant exposure inthe spectral region 315 to 400 nm should not exceed 104J m 2.Exposure of the skinFor the most sensitive, non-pathologic, skin phototypes (known as “melano-compromised”), ultravioletradiant exposure in the spectral region 180 to 400 nmupon the unprotected skin should not exceed 30 J m 2effective spectrally weighted using the spectral weighting factors contained in Table 1. This limit should beconsidered a desirable goal for skin exposure to minimize the long-term risk, but it must be recognized thatthis limit is difficult to achieve in sunlight and judgmentmust be used in its practical application. It has a verysubstantial safety factor for dark skin phototypes (knownas “melano-competent”) and more generally for individuals who have been conditioned by previous, repeatedexposures (known as “melano-adapted,” i.e., tanned).To determine the effective irradiance of a broadbandsource weighted against the peak of the spectral effectiveness curve (270 nm), the following weighting formula should be used:E eff E 䡠 S 共 兲 䡠 ,(1)where:Eeff effective irradiance in W cm 2 ( J s 1cm 2) or W m 2 (J s 1 m 2) normalized to amonochromatic source at 270 nm;E spectral irradiance from measurements in Wcm 2 nm 1 or W m 2 nm 1;S( ) relative spectral effectiveness (unitless); and bandwidth in nanometers of the calculation ormeasurement intervals.August 2004, Volume 87, Number 2Permissible exposure time in seconds for exposure toUVR incident upon the unprotected skin or eye may becomputed by dividing 30 J m 2 by the value of Eeff in Wm 2. The maximal exposure duration may also be determined using Table 2, which provides representativeexposure durations corresponding to effective irradiancesin W m 2 or W cm 2.Values of S( ) for wavelengths that are not listed inTable 1 may be interpolated through the application ofthe following three formulas (Wester 2000). The threesimple mathematical expressions apply in the range onlyfrom 210 – 400 nm:For the region210 ⱕ ⱕ 270 nm S共 兲 0.959共 270 兲(2a)For the region冉270 ⱕ 300 nm S共 兲 1 0.36x 27020冊1.64(2b)For the region300 ⱕ 400 nm S共 兲 0.3 0.736共 300 兲 10共 2 0.0163 兲 . (2c)The formulae interpolate between and substitute withreasonable accuracy the points along the action spectrum.SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONSThese EL values are intended to apply to UVRexposure of the working population, but with someprecaution also apply to the general population. However, it should be recognized that some rare, highlyTable 2. Limiting UV exposure durations based on exposurelimits.Effective irradianceDuration of exposureper dayEeff (W m 2)Eeff ( W cm 2)8h4h2h1h30 min15 min10 min5 min1 min30 s10 s1s0.5 s0.1 03000.10.20.40.81.73.3510501003003,0006,00030,000
Guidelines on limits of exposure to UV radiation ICNIRPphotosensitive individuals exist who may react adverselyto exposure at these levels. These individuals are normally aware of their heightened sensitivity. Likewise, ifindividuals are concomitantly exposed to photosensitizing agents (Fitzpatrick et al. 1974; Johnson 1992), aphotosensitizing reaction can take place. It should beemphasized that many individuals who are exposed tophotosensitizing agents (ingested or externally appliedchemicals, e.g., in cosmetics, foods, drugs, industrialchemicals, etc.) probably will not be aware of theirheightened sensitivity. Phototoxic reactions apply to allindividuals and depend upon the quantity of photosensitizing chemicals and the UVR exposure, whereas photoallergic reactions will be observed for much lowerquantities of the substance in sensitized individuals.Lightly pigmented individuals conditioned by previousUVR exposure (leading to tanning and hyperplasia) andheavily pigmented individuals can tolerate skin exposurein excess of the EL without erythemal effects. However,repeated tanning may increase the risk for those personslater developing signs of accelerated skin aging and evenskin cancer. Such risks should be understood prior to theuse of UVR for medical phototherapy or cosmeticexposures.PROTECTIVE MEASURESProtective measures will differ depending uponwhether the UVR exposure results from sunlight orfrom artificial sources. The use of hats, eye protectors,clothing, and sun-shading structures are practical protective measures to reduce sunlight exposure. Whenthese measures are inadequate, topical sunscreensshould be applied to the skin. However, the value ofsunscreens has been questioned, and an IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Cancer-PreventiveAgents concluded that there was inadequate epidemiological evidence in humans for a cancer-preventiveeffect of topical use of sunscreen formulations againstcutaneous malignant melanoma, or basal-cell carcinoma, despite the experimental evidence in animalstudies (IARC/WHO 2001).When exposure is to artificial sources, as in someindustrial hazard situations, engineering control measures are preferable to protective clothing, goggles, andprocedural safety measures. Glass envelopes for arclamps will filter out most UVB and UVC. Where lengthyexposure to high power glass-envelope lamps and quartzhalogen lamps will occur at close proximity, additionalglass filtration may be necessary (McKinlay et al. 1989).Light-tight cabinets and enclosures and UVR absorbingglass and plastic shielding are the key engineeringcontrol measures used to prevent human exposure to175hazardous UVR produced in man
RADIATION OF WAVELENGTHS BETWEEN 180 NM AND 400 NM (INCOHERENT OPTICAL RADIATION) The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection* INTRODUCTION SINCE THE publication of the ICNIRP Guidelines on UV Radiation Limits (ICNIRP 1996),† recent research has made it appropriate to update the guidelines for protec-tion.
International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The ICNIRP Guidelines include internationally recognised limits on EMF exposure for the protection of the general public. We refer to these limits as the "ICNIRP general public limits". 1.3 This document provides gui
3.1 Summary of UV-C safety requirements of photobiological safety standard IEC 62471 [Source: IEC 62471 modified to lower 180 nm wavelength boundary and limited to upper 280 nm wavelength boundary] Note: The product safety requirements for the wavelength extension are derived from ICNIRP 2004 Guidelines [1]. 3.1.1 Effective UV-C irradiance
Sep 20, 2017 · I CNI RP L i mi ts Do Not P r ote c t P e op l e , Wi l d l i fe or th e E n vi r on me n t The exposure guidelines developed by ICNIRP, and which many countries rely on to set radiofrequency guidelines, are based on the outdated and proven erroneous assumption that thermal
Guidelines Heuristics (rules that are generally true) –have been developed for various manufacturing technologies. Some DFM guidelines –Guidelines for machining –Guidelines for assembly –Guidelines for injection molding –Guidelines for sheet metal processing –Guidelines for sheet die forming –Guidelines for casting
Issy Les Moulineaux, France Correspondence should be addressed to D. Plets; david.plets@intec.ugent.be . organizations such as IEEE [ ] and ICNIRP (International CommissiononNon-IonizingRadiationProtection)[ ]have . PL or, with BS expressed in (V/m), BS (V /m ) 10(EIRP BS 43.15 20 log 10
The target molecule for a given effect is termed the chromophore, and while there are many photochemically active chromophores in the skin and eye, a key chro-mophore for delayed effects is DNA (UNEP et al. 1994). Absorption by biological tissues UVR is absorbed by all constituents of living organ-isms. Interactions with biomolecules will .
Studies on neurological effects and reproductive effects have not indicated any health risks at exposure levels below the ICNIRP-limits established in 1998. Animal studies have not provided evidence that RF fields could induce cancer, enhance the effects of known carcinogens, or accelerate the development of transplanted tumours.
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