Use of Ultraviolet Lights in Biological Safety Cabinets: A Contrarian View

Abstract

In the U.S., the use of ultraviolet lights (UV) has been a source of friction between the research community, who desire them in their biosafety cabinets (BSCs), and the biosafety community, who have largely been agnostic or openly hostue to their use. This paper examines some of the claims on both sides of the issue, provides data regarding the actual irradiance inside and near BSCs at a large pharmaceutical research and development site, and makes recommendations that both protects users from the adverse effects of UV as well as supports its continued use as a useful adjunct to good laboratory hygiene.