Evaluation of Erythemal UV Effects from Shield Metal Arc Welding Processing

Abstract

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure is known to cause potential effects such as erythema in skin. Arc welding processing scatters bright light with high levels of UVR emission including full UV spectrum (UVA, UVB, and UVC). This study established a comprehensive approach to monitor erythemal UVR magnitude from Shield Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) processing. The irradiances from welding UVR are calculated with biological erythemal effective parameter (S(subscript λ)) for human skin exposure assessment. The spectral weighting function for UVR measurement and evaluation is followed by the CIE (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage, International Commission on Illumination) action spectrum. The UV Index (UVI) is an irradiance scale computed by multiplying the CIE erythemal irradiance integral in mili-Watts per square meter by 0.04 m^2 mW^(-1). The average UVI values at 50, 100, 200, and 300 cm from arc welding are 121, 53, 11, and 6, respectively. From this study, complete details of the erythemal UVR emission spectrum and exposure dose on human skin exposure assessment were established and could be further evaluated by the environmental solar simulation of the UVI exposure.