![]() In both of these light designs, the emitted UV light reacts with various external phosphors in exactly the same way as the UV light inside a fluorescent lamp reacts with the phosphor coating. It absorbs everything except the infrared and UV-A light (and a little bit of visible light). An incandescent black light bulb is similar to a normal household light bulb, but it uses light filters to absorb the light from the heated filament.The "black" glass tube itself blocks most visible light, so in the end only benign long-wave UV-A light, along with some blue and violet visible light, passes through. This coating absorbs harmful shortwave UV-B and UV-C light and emits UV-A light (in the same basic way the phosphor in a fluorescent lamp absorbs UV light and emits visible light). A tube black light is a basically a fluorescent lamp with a different sort of phosphor coating. ![]() In the next section, we'll see how phosphors are used in regular fluorescent lighting and in black lights. A phosphor converts the energy in the UV radiation from a black light into visible light. What you see glowing under a black light, whether on a fluorescent poster or an invisible hand stamp or a newly washed white T-shirt, are phosphors.Ī phosphor is any substance that emits visible light in response to some sort of radiation. ![]() Ultraviolet light frequencies are above violet on the spectrum and are invisible to the human eye. A black light bulb produces UVA light (as opposed to UVB light, which is much more harmful). How Sunburns and Sun Tans Work discusses ultraviolet light and its effects on our skin. Above violet is ultraviolet light, which we cannot see. Our eyes can see visible light in a spectrum ranging from red through orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. What you cannot see is the ultraviolet light that the bulb is also producing. Exposure from black lights would be much lower than your exposure to UVA outdoors.If you turn on a black light bulb in a dark room, what you can see from the bulb is a purplish glow. Exposure to UVA from black lights is well below the recognised safe limits and is not hazardous to people using them, working in their vicinity or who have them in their home. UVA is thought to cause premature ageing and has recently been linked to some skin cancers, however UVB is the main cause of skin cancer. Many insects can see ultraviolet light so black lights are often used in the “bug zapper” type of insect traps.īlack lights are usually fluorescent lamps or incandescent light bulbs modified to allow only the emission of UVA and some visible light. These particles are found in certain objects, including your teeth and fingernails. This glow is the energy emitted by the light being converted into visible light by particles called phosphors. They are often used in industry, nightclubs or amusement parks to make things glow. Black lights emit a type of ultraviolet radiation called UVA, which is invisible to the human eye. ![]() There is no evidence to suggest that insect traps using ultraviolet black light increase your risk of developing skin cancer, as the amount of ultraviolet radiation they emit is very low. Will the use of this in my home increase my family's risk of developing skin cancer?" I recently bought an insect repellent and noticed that it uses "ultraviolet black light".
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