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07 October 2008

Answer to Question #3255 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Suntanning

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

I have been looking for a bench shield (not facial shield) to block the UVB (ultraviolet B) radiation from the nucleic acid transilluminator for some time. The closest I came to finding something are some radiation shields for ³²P, beta, or gamma radiation. Would these shields works? If not, do you have any recommendation on where I can find such shields.

The plastic shields for ³²P protection would work very well with UV. Most plastics stop UV, as does most glass. It takes special plastics or pure quartz to allow UV to pass through unattenuated. A one-eighth inch sheet of polycarbonate would provide an optical density of about 10 and would work well as a UV shield. It's a good idea to ask your local health physicist or other safety professional to stop in with a UV meter and test whatever setup you finally decide on.

Gary H. Zeman, ScD, CHP

Answer posted on 3 December 2003. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.