Table 1.
Studies reported on harmful effects of UVGI exposure.
| Author | Study Location | Year of publication | Journal Name | Key Findings: Potential Harms in Humans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murray WE38 | CDC: NIOSH | 1990 | Health Phys | Hazard to workers in a mycobacteriology laboratory, 76 were found to have a high NIOSH exposure limit to UVGI, with a potential harm to eyes and skin. |
| Nardell EA39 | - | 2008 | Public Health Reports | Cell of the cornea when exposed to greater UV radiation can result in injury |
| - | 2008 | Public Health Reports | Photodermatitis and more commonly photokeratoconjuctivitis are common if exposure to UVGI is over a short term. | |
| 2008 | Public Health Reports | A questionnaire regarding eye and skin irritation was administered to a total of 3,611 staff and homeless study subjects. Among these subjects, there were 223 reports of eye or skin symptoms | ||
| Purcell JJ Jr and Krachmer JH40 | - | 1976 | N Engl J Med. | 8 workers developed photokeratoconjuctivitis from an inadvertent 20-minute exposure to lower room UVGI in an operating room. |
| Talbot EA et al.41 | Botswana | 2002 | Int j tuberc lung dis | Two nurses, a housekeeper experienced eye problem, and facial skin peeling from exposure to unshielded 36-watt UVGI lamp turned on accidentally. |
| Trevisan et al.42 | Italy | 2006 | Photochem Photobiol | 26 Italian medical students exposed to a bare bulb direct lower room germicidal UV source for 90 minutes during an autopsy demonstration. Both reported eye and skin symptoms. |
| Zaffina et al.43 | - | 2012 | Photochem Photobiol | A case report that describes an accidental exposure of two health care workers to ultraviolet radiation produced by a germicidal lamp in a hospital pharmacy |
| Brickner PW and Vincent LR44 | USA | 2013 | Photochem Photobiol | For all those working in the field of UVGI, safety issues must be a concern because when UVGI fixtures are placed improperly, or precautions ignored, room occupants are placed at risk of photokeratoconjunctivitis and photodermatitis. |
| Moss C. and Seitz TA45 | USA | 1991 | Appl. Occup. Environ. Hyg | Employees complained of eye and skin irritation that was worse during the workweek, but better over the weekends despite outdoor solar exposure. |
| Tai-Shion Lee46 | USA | 1996 | Chest | Two persons had red, gritty eyes with blurry vision, and one person had severe ocular discomfort with redness, watering, and blurred vision that lasted 8 h. |