Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ingr!phil
From: phil@ingr.com (Phil Johnson)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Cheap EPROM eraser?
Message-ID: <9658@ingr.com>
Date: 9 Apr 90 12:42:37 GMT
References: <1615@serene.UUCP>
Reply-To: phil@ingr.UUCP (Phil Johnson)
Organization: Intergraph Corp. Huntsville, Al
Lines: 33

In article <1615@serene.UUCP> gbell@pnet12.cts.com (Greg Bell) writes:
>jac@paul.rutgers.edu (Jonathan A. Chandross) writes:
>>I hate to sound like somebody's mother, but people planning to do this
>>ought to be aware of the risks.
>>
>>EPROM erasers have safety interlocks and leak-proof cases for a very good 
>>reason -- exposure to UV can damage your eyes.  In addition to the UV hazard,

>Greg,
>Actually, the hazards of low intensity UV lamps are grossly over-estimated
>by most laymen.  As a health-physicist, I'm aware of the health effects
>of many types of radiation and I can assure you that one would have to
>work to cause any damage with one of these bulbs.  To put this  issue in


As a health-physicist you SHOULD BE AWARE that UV sources come in two flavors 

(1) Short wave length - such as germicidal lamps

    These are fairly safe to view without a filter, such as eyeglasses.

(2) Long wave length - such as EPROM erasers

    These can cause severe damage to eyes if view directly without a filter.

This is one of the first safety lessons taught when dealing with UV-based
analytical instruments, such as UV spectrophotometers.


-- 
Philip E. Johnson                    UUCP:  usenet!ingr!phil
MY words,                           VOICE:  (205) 730-8112
MY opinion!