Development of an Instrument to Measure Blue-Light Radiation

Abstract

We have developed an instrument to measure blue-light radiation (BLR) that conforms to the recommendation of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). We used a luminance meter as a base. To remodel it into an instrument to measure BLR (BLR meter), we selected and combined suitable color glass filters and attached them to the aperture of the luminance meter. We describe the characteristics of the developed BLR meter and discuss its fitness for practical use. It was found that the BLR meter fully satisfies the conditions required for measurement of BLR and is sufficiently applicable for measurement in general in the workplace. Practically, with the BLR meter., we determined the BLR levels of the arc of shielded metal arc welding of mild steel and the sun nearly at noon on a fine day. They were 10.5 and 62.4 W/cm1-sr, respectively. Their permissible exposure durations would be 9.5 and 1.6 seconds, according to the ACGIH. © 1988, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. All rights reserved.