Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:55:36 -0500
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From: ACTSNYC**At_Symbol_Here**CS.COM
Subject: Re: Eye protection for working w/borosilicate glass
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I refer you all to:

"Infrared Radiation Exposure in Traditional Glass Factories," Renata Sisto,Iole Pinto, Nicola Stacchiene, Franco Guiliani. Am. Indust. Hyg. Assoc. J., 61:5-10, Jan/Feb, 2000.

As in previous studies, the Italian researchers found that very little ultraviolet radiation is produced in glassblowing.  Instead, intense exposures in the IR-B and IR-C ranges were sustained by the workers who are in close proximity to the glass furnaces gathering glass, reheating, and similar activities.  These IR exposures exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist's limits by factors as large as 15! 

And regarding generation of IR cataracts, the researchers concluded from analyses of three other recent studies [I'll provide these references if you want] that IR-B (1400-3000 nm) and IR-C (3000-1,000,000 nm) are the most hazardous.

Then the Italian researchers dropped a bombshell.  They explained thatwhile commercial lenses are available which guarantee a very low IR spectral transmission in the 770-2000 nm range, IR transmission above this level in the IR-C range is not usually known or even reported!

Didymium lenses block the sodium yellow light and would be good at blockingUV if there was any amount worth blocking, but from the transmission spectrums I've seen, didymium lenses don't block even the reported IR range worth squat.  Now your small scale lamp work is much less hazardous, but big or small amounts of glowing borosilicate glass put out the same spectrumof radiation.

Monona

 



In a message dated 12/21/2011 4:40:48 PM Eastern Standard Time, info@ILPI.COM writes:


Didymium glasses a must for borosilicate glasswork.  Generic sunglasses are not sufficient.  See our Scientific Glassblowing Learning Centerat http://www.ilpi.com/glassblowing/glassblowertools.html for information about these kinds of glasses and their various permutations.   Technical data is here: http://www.ilpi.com/glassblowing/rosedidymium.html


You can find a wide variety of glasses and face shields at these two vendors - they offer far more than just the basic set of glasses you're likely tofind from the major lab houses.  Neither I nor my company has any affiliation with these:


http://www.waleapparatus.com/store.asp?pid=18622&catid=19836
http://secure.mediafusiontech.com/heathway/shopping/Items.asp?action=DISPLAY&Category=22


Rob Toreki

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