Pma2121.jpg (8603 bytes)The PMA2121 blue light safety detector offers an accurate, easy, inexpensive way to measure the blue light radiation hazard to eyes for a wide range of occupations. Employers, safety officers and risk managers can use this detector to protect workers against the effects of excessive daily blue light exposure. Such exposure, according to numerous medical studies, can inflict permanent and irreversible damage to the eye causing visual field defects and visual impairment. 

The PMA2121 detector indicates the effective irradiance weighted with the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Spectral Weighting Function for blue light hazard. Light sources that may produce a blue light hazard include: monochromatic and collimated lasers as well as collimated arc, or tungsten lamps (e.g. search lamps). Flash lamps generally do not present serious hazard because of the limited energy of the flash as compared to continuous sources.

To protect against retinal photochemical injury from chronic blue-light, the max. exposure limit for a source subtending less than 0.011 radian should not exceed 10mJ/cm2 per 10,000 seconds of exposure (approx. 2 hours 47 minutes). For exposure periods greater than 10,000 seconds the weighted irradiance should not exceed 1µW/cm2.

FEATURES

  • High sensitivity
  • Dynamic range 2*105
  • Excellent long term stability
  • Cosine corrected
  • NIST traceable calibration
  • Ease of use

 

APPLICATIONS

  • Industrial and laboratory safety
  • Welding stations
  • Printing
  • UV curing and photolithography
  • Lighting
  • Safety glass testing
  • Environmental testing

Typical blue light levels are:

150 W halogen lamp at 50 cm distance 70 µW/cm2
150 W Xe arc lamp at 50 cm distance 80 µW/cm2
40 W fluorescent tube at 2 m distance 5 µW/cm2

 

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SPECIFICATIONS

Spectral response

Follows ACGIH blue hazard action spectrum Figure 1

Angular response

5% for angles <60°

Range

2,000 µW/cm2
20,000 mW/cm2

Display resolution

0.01 µW/cm2
0.1 mW/m2

Operating environment

32 to 120 °F (0 to +50 °C) no precipitation

Cable

1ft, retractable to 5ft (0.3m/1.5m)

Diameter

1.6" (40.6 mm)

Height

1.8" (45.8 mm)

Weight

7.1 oz. (200 grams)

Analog versions of this detector are available See PMA1121

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