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Annex I Non-coherent optical radiation

United Kingdom

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

The biophysically relevant exposure values to optical radiation can be determined with the formulae below. The formulae to be used depend on the range of radiation emitted by the source and the results should be compared with the corresponding exposure limit values indicated in Table 1.1. More than one exposure value and corresponding exposure limit can be relevant for a given source of optical radiation.

Numbering (a) to (o) refers to corresponding rows of Table 1.1.

(a) H eff = ∫ 0 t ∫ λ = 180 nm λ = 400 nm E λ λ,t × S λ × dλ × dt (Heff is only relevant in the range 180 to 400 nm)
(b) H UVA = ∫ 0 t ∫ λ = 315 nm λ = 400 nm E λ λ,t × dλ × dt (HUVA is only relevant in the range 315 to 400 nm)
(c), (d) L B = ∫ λ = 300 nm λ = 700 nm L λ λ × B λ × dλ (LB is only relevant in the range 300 to 700 nm)
(e), (f) E B = ∫ λ = 300 nm λ = 700 nm E λ λ × B λ × dλ (EB is only relevant in the range 300 to 700 nm)
(g) to (l) L R = ∫ λ 1 λ 2 L λ λ × R λ × dλ (See Table 1.1 for appropriate values of λ1 and λ2)
(m), (n) E IR = ∫ λ = 780 nm λ = 3000 nm E λ λ × dλ (EIR is only relevant in the range 780 to 3 000 nm)
(o) H skin = ∫ 0 t ∫ λ = 380 nm λ = 3000 nm E λ λ,t × dλ × dt (Hskin is only relevant in the range 380 to 3 000 nm)

For the purposes of this Directive, the formulae above can be replaced by the following expressions and the use of discrete values as set out in the following tables:

(a) E eff = ∑ λ = 180 nm λ = 400 nm E λ × S λ × Δλ and H eff = E eff × Δt
(b) E UVA = ∑ λ = 315 nm λ = 400 nm E λ × Δλ and H UVA = E UVA × Δt
(c), (d) L B = ∑ λ = 300 nm λ = 700 nm L λ × B λ × Δλ
(e), (f) E B = ∑ λ = 300 nm λ = 700 nm E λ × B λ × Δλ
(g) to (l) L R = ∑ λ 1 λ 2 L λ × R λ × Δλ (See Table 1.1 for appropriate values of λ1 and λ2)
(m), (n) E IR = ∑ λ = 780 nm λ = 3000 nm E λ × Δλ
(o) E skin = ∑ λ = 380 nm λ = 3000 nm E λ × Δλ and H skin = E skin × Δt

Notes:

Eλ (λ,t), Eλ

  • spectral irradiance or spectral power density: the radiant power incident per unit area upon a surface, expressed in watts per square metre per nanometre [W m-2 nm-1]; values of Eλ (λ, t) and Eλ come from measurements or may be provided by the manufacturer of the equipment;

    • Eeff

  • effective irradiance (UV range): calculated irradiance within the UV wavelength range 180 to 400 nm spectrally weighted by S (λ), expressed in watts per square metre [W m-2];

    • H

  • radiant exposure: the time integral of the irradiance, expressed in joules per square metre [J m-2];

    • Heff

  • effective radiant exposure: radiant exposure spectrally weighted by S (λ), expressed in joules per square metre [J m-2];

    • EUVA

  • total irradiance (UVA): calculated irradiance within the UVA wavelength range 315 to 400 nm, expressed in watts per square metre [W m-2];

    • HUVA

  • radiant exposure: the time and wavelength integral or sum of the irradiance within the UVA wavelength range 315 to 400 nm, expressed in joules per square metre [J m-2];

    • S (λ)

  • spectral weighting taking into account the wavelength dependence of the health effects of UV radiation on eye and skin, (Table 1.2) [dimensionless];

    • t, Δt

  • time, duration of the exposure, expressed in seconds [s];

    • λ

  • wavelength, expressed in nanometres [nm];

    • Δ λ

  • bandwidth, expressed in nanometres [nm], of the calculation or measurement intervals;

    • Lλ (λ), Lλ

  • spectral radiance of the source expressed in watts per square metre per steradian per nanometre [W m-2 sr -1 nm-1];

    • R (λ)

  • spectral weighting taking into account the wavelength dependence of the thermal injury caused to the eye by visible and IRA radiation (Table 1.3) [dimensionless];

    • LR

  • effective radiance(thermal injury): calculated radiance spectrally weighted by R (λ) expressed in watts per square metre per steradian [W m-2 sr -1];

    • B (λ)

  • spectral weighting taking into account the wavelength dependence of the photochemical injury caused to the eye by blue light radiation (Table 1.3) [dimensionless];

    • LB

  • effective radiance(blue light): calculated radiance spectrally weighted by B (λ), expressed in watts per square metre per steradian [W m-2 sr -1];

    • EB

  • effective irradiance (blue light): calculated irradiance spectrally weighted by B (λ) expressed in watts per square metre [W m-2];

    • EIR

  • total irradiance (thermal injury): calculated irradiance within the infrared wavelength range 780 nm to 3 000 nm expressed in watts per square metre [W m-2];

    • Eskin

  • total irradiance (visible, IRA and IRB): calculated irradiance within the visible and infrared wavelength range 380 nm to 3 000 nm, expressed in watts per square metre [W m-2];

    • Hskin

  • radiant exposure: the time and wavelength integral or sum of the irradiance within the visible and infrared wavelength range 380 to 3 000 nm, expressed in joules per square metre (J m-2);

    • α

  • angular subtense: the angle subtended by an apparent source, as viewed at a point in space, expressed in milliradians (mrad). Apparent source is the real or virtual object that forms the smallest possible retinal image.

    • Table 1.1

    Exposure limit values for non-coherent optical radiation

    Note 1:

  • The range of 300 to 700 nm covers parts of UVB, all UVA and most of visible radiation; however, the associated hazard is commonly referred to as ‘blue light’ hazard. Blue light strictly speaking covers only the range of approximately 400 to 490 nm.

    • Note 2:

  • For steady fixation of very small sources with an angular subtense < 11 mrad, LB can be converted to EB. This normally applies only for ophthalmic instruments or a stabilized eye during anaesthesia. The maximum ‘stare time’ is found by: tmax = 100/EB with EB expressed in W m-2. Due to eye movements during normal visual tasks this does not exceed 100 s.

    •
    IndexWavelength nmExposure limit valueUnitsCommentPart of the bodyHazard
    a.

    180-400

    (UVA, UVB and UVC)

    Heff = 30

    Daily value 8 hours

    		[J m-2]
    eye

    cornea

    conjunctiva

    lens

    skin

    photokeratitis

    conjunctivitis

    cataractogenesis

    erythema

    elastosis

    skin cancer

    b.

    315-400

    (UVA)

    HUVA = 104

    Daily value 8 hours

    		[J m-2]eye lenscataractogenesis
    c.

    300-700

    (Blue light) see note 1

    		L B = 10 6 t

    for t ≤ 10 000 s

    LB :[W m-2 sr-1]

    t: [seconds]

    		for α ≥ 11 mradeye retinaphotoretinitis
    d.

    300-700

    (Blue light)

    see note 1

    LB = 100

    for t > 10 000 s

    		[W m-2 sr-1]
    e.

    300-700

    (Blue light)

    see note 1

    		E B = 100 t

    for t ≤ 10 000 s

    EB: [W m-2]

    t: [seconds]

    for α < 11 mrad

    see note 2

    f.

    300-700

    (Blue light)

    see note 1

    EB = 0,01

    t >10 000 s

    		[W m-2]
    g.

    380-1 400

    (Visible and IRA)

    		 L R = 2,8 × 10 7 C α

    for t >10 s

    		[W m-2 sr-1]

    Cα = 1,7 for

    α ≤ 1,7 mrad

    Cα = α for

    1,7 ≤ α ≤ 100 mrad

    Cα = 100 for

    α > 100 mrad

    λ1= 380; λ2= 1 400

    		eye retinaretinal burn
    h.

    380-1 400

    (Visible and IRA)

    		 L R = 5 × 10 7 C α t 0,25

    for 10 μs ≤ t ≤ 10 s

    LR:[W m-2 sr-1]

    t: [seconds]

    i.

    380-1 400

    (Visible and IRA)

    		 L R = 8,89 × 10 8 C α

    for t <10 μs

    		[W m-2 sr-1]
    j.

    780-1 400

    (IRA)

    		 L R = 6 × 10 6 C α

    for t > 10 s

    		[W m-2 sr-1]

    Cα = 11 for

    α ≤ 11 mrad

    Cα = α for

    11≤ α ≤ 100 mrad

    Cα = 100 for

    α > 100 mrad

    (measurement field-of-view: 11 mrad)

    λ1= 780; λ2= 1 400

    		eye retinaretinal burn
    k.

    780-1 400

    (IRA)

    		 L R = 5 × 10 7 C α t 0,25

    for 10 μs ≤ t ≤ 10 s

    LR: [W m-2 sr-1]

    t: [seconds]

    l.

    780-1 400

    (IRA)

    		 L R = 8,89 × 10 8 C α

    for t < 10 μs

    		[W m-2 sr-1]
    m.

    780-3 000

    (IRA and IRB)

    EIR = 18 000 t-0,75

    for t ≤ 1 000 s

    E: [W m-2]

    t: [seconds]
    eye

    cornea

    lens

    corneal burn

    cataractogenesis

    n.

    780-3 000

    (IRA and IRB)

    EIR = 100

    for t > 1 000 s

    		[W m-2]
    o.

    380-3 000

    (Visible, IRA

    and IRB)

    Hskin = 20 000 t0,25

    for t < 10 s

    H: [J m-2]

    t: [seconds]

    		skinburn

    Table 1.2

    S (λ) [dimensionless], 180 nm to 400 nm

    λ in nmS (λ)λ in nmS (λ)λ in nmS (λ)λ in nmS (λ)λ in nmS (λ)
    1800,0122280,17372760,94343240,000523720,000086
    1810,01262290,18192770,92723250,00053730,000083
    1820,01322300,192780,91123260,0004793740,00008
    1830,01382310,19952790,89543270,0004593750,000077
    1840,01442320,20892800,883280,000443760,000074
    1850,01512330,21882810,85683290,0004253770,000072
    1860,01582340,22922820,83423300,000413780,000069
    1870,01662350,242830,81223310,0003963790,000066
    1880,01732360,2512840,79083320,0003833800,000064
    1890,01812370,26242850,773330,000373810,000062
    1900,0192380,27442860,7423340,0003553820,000059
    1910,01992390,28692870,71513350,000343830,000057
    1920,02082400,32880,68913360,0003273840,000055
    1930,02182410,31112890,66413370,0003153850,000053
    1940,02282420,32272900,643380,0003033860,000051
    1950,02392430,33472910,61863390,0002913870,000049
    1960,0252440,34712920,5983400,000283880,000047
    1970,02622450,362930,5783410,0002713890,000046
    1980,02742460,3732940,55873420,0002633900,000044
    1990,02872470,38652950,543430,0002553910,000042
    2000,032480,40052960,49843440,0002483920,000041
    2010,03342490,4152970,463450,000243930,000039
    2020,03712500,432980,39893460,0002313940,000037
    2030,04122510,44652990,34593470,0002233950,000036
    2040,04592520,46373000,33480,0002153960,000035
    2050,0512530,48153010,2213490,0002073970,000033
    2060,05512540,53020,16293500,00023980,000032
    2070,05952550,523030,123510,0001913990,000031
    2080,06432560,54373040,08493520,0001834000,00003
    2090,06942570,56853050,063530,000175
    2100,0752580,59453060,04543540,000167
    2110,07862590,62163070,03443550,00016
    2120,08242600,653080,0263560,000153
    2130,08642610,67923090,01973570,000147
    2140,09062620,70983100,0153580,000141
    2150,0952630,74173110,01113590,000136
    2160,09952640,77513120,00813600,00013
    2170,10432650,813130,0063610,000126
    2180,10932660,84493140,00423620,000122
    2190,11452670,88123150,0033630,000118
    2200,122680,91923160,00243640,000114
    2210,12572690,95873170,0023650,00011
    2220,13162701,03180,00163660,000106
    2230,13782710,99193190,00123670,000103
    2240,14442720,98383200,0013680,000099
    2250,152730,97583210,0008193690,000096
    2260,15832740,96793220,000673700,000093
    2270,16582750,963230,000543710,00009

    Table 1.3

    B (λ), R (λ) [dimensionless], 380 nm to 1 400 nm

    λ in nmB (λ)R (λ)
    300 ≤ λ < 3800,01—
    3800,010,1
    3850,0130,13
    3900,0250,25
    3950,050,5
    4000,11
    4050,22
    4100,44
    4150,88
    4200,99
    4250,959,5
    4300,989,8
    435110
    440110
    4450,979,7
    4500,949,4
    4550,99
    4600,88
    4650,77
    4700,626,2
    4750,555,5
    4800,454,5
    4850,323,2
    4900,222,2
    4950,161,6
    5000,11
    500 < λ ≤ 600100,02·(450 - λ) 1
    600 < λ ≤ 7000,0011
    700 < λ ≤ 1 050—100,002 · (700 - λ)
    1 050 < λ ≤ 1 150—0,2
    1 150 < λ ≤ 1 200—0,2· 100,02·(1 150 - λ)
    1 200 < λ ≤ 1 400—0,02