PSA Too much light

[MarkyJ]

If our plants can burn under the lamps what about our skin? A few days ago my face got red and then pealing including around my eyes even though I had a hat and cheap grow glasses on. I attributed it to my age and cold weather but I never really had cold weather skin before so now I think my lamp could be a factor. I have not looked at my plants since and it healed up already.

I have a viparspectra r900 they say is full spectrum. My first grow was in the summer so my face was tanner and acclamated I suppose and didn’t get a face burn even though I spent a lot more time admiring my plant hahah. I think with the lamp reflection off the tent the light could bounce up to my forehead and eyelids I guess.

Anyway after reading the the PSA I feel like turning off my lamp now when I water my plants. 👌

[Paracelsus]

Try and Water and Foliar feed just after lights out for better absorption and protection. Check before lights on for absorption and run off. Besides the goggles wear long sleeves, a hoody, and gloves when lights are on. Take your plants out of the tent or grow room to train or defoliate until you get the into a Scrog. If you want to work inside the tent in the dark you can wear a green headlamp that won't affect your dark period.

I get UV treatments for psoriasis and the treatment lasts 15 or 20 seconds, 3 times a week till it goes away and the VA is using medical grade lighting not 400, 600, 1000 watt lights. Always leaves a red mark.

There are rumblings that these full spectrum light bulbs will one day be prohibited because of the harmful rays and environmental issues. Just recently read this in a few different places. One guy I believe is Brendan from Spectrum King Yes I know they make LED lights but he is very upfront and transparent.

[abadtrip]

That's funny banning a light for its spectral output.
I have noticed that even cheep clear safey glasses are enough to block harmful uv light i know this from work.
I have also noticed because I shave my head if i am under the 315 cmh for a long time like during stretch when I am scrogging. That it burns my head I use spf 50 baby sunblock at work for uv protection and started putting it on my head it helps.
so if u do have alot of work to do under the lights treat it like the sun protect yourself.

[LaughingBuddha]

Light is not what burns you plant, it's heat. Grow lights are harmless to the eyes and skin.

[abadtrip]

So u are saying that the uvb light that come from the 315 cmh does nothing to the human body and it's just a placebo effect brought on by some kind of mental manifestation.
What causes the light burn from my leds if they don't produce any heat.

[Paracelsus]

You really shouldn't talk about things you know nothing about, you could cause someone serious injury.

http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/hazards-of-high-intensity-discharge-lights

[LaughingBuddha]

I said your led is harmless. The rest was you. Your light is not dangerous.

[abadtrip]

U said grow lights homie

[LaughingBuddha]

And I still say it. I spend hours under HPS

[Paracelsus]

You really need to study this before it shrinks you into ant man size

[LaughingBuddha]

This is my favorite forum comment on of of my post ever!

[dontknownuttin]

[Paracelsus]

not so sure about this one

https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/10/23/near-infrared-led-lighting.aspx

[DrPhoton]

Ok lets clear some things up.

Energy that causes physical damage is typically caused by ionizing radiation. This is the energy that causes destructive damage by liberating electrons from atoms in matter. Non ionizing radiation such as visible light, has wavelengths too long to destabilize electrons. However the non visible light such as ultra violet radiation, has short wavelengths which are ionizing.

Now lets look at lights that contain some of this ionizong radiation (ultra violet).

High pressure sodium actually has very little to no UV radiation. However metal halide has some pretty staggaring levels of UV A that is comparable to sunlight. Ouch!. Whats more surprising is that ceramic metal halide has less UV energy than HPS. I bet that will confuse those who were told otherwise :S. However, they may contain much more dangerous levels of UV C that is typically filtered by our atmosphere. But i have found no evidence so far.

LED has virtually no UV energy to speak of and is very difficult to quantify. Although there is energy from the recombination process. The energy is converted into non ionizing visible light because of the doping process in semiconductors.

As has been suggested already, there is a study that looked at the potential dangers of LED lights. Specifically with the blue spectrum. However, it has been reveiwed as a poor assessment and is misleading. The study protocol applied light intensity equivalent of a 100watt lightbulb at a distance of around 12 inches. Not exactly what one would consider common daily exposure. So as far as other field specialists are concerned, its a non issue and something to forget entirely.

Lastly regarding plant physiological responses to light. Damage to plants caused by oversaturation of light, is caused by photo oxidation to pigments and membranes. Ultimately destroying chrolophylls and making leaves loose the green color and present bleached.

I got a blanket for christmas ;p

[DrPhoton]

It must be noted that LED fixtures can come with UV diodes, this is conditional however and is only applicable where special and expensive doping is used to allow this.

[Paracelsus]

Thats what I mean, I learned about how the diode was first invented and then developed since the early 1900's

[Vapo69]

What kind of blanket?

[D.A.A.S.69]

Common sense tells you not to look at some lights, just like your not supposed to look at the sun for long. My led came with a warning not to look at it to long. It can't be good to look at it long. But there is always going to be a few who know differently. I think those that continue to look at the brite lights are called pushing the envelope, and trend setters, until they are blind. Then they are called something else.lol.

[DrPhoton]

I agree with this.

[D.A.A.S.69]

Like Dano,said about the 315cmh i like my new light but i can't see it being as good as a 600hps, like the manufacturers said it was, maybe close to a 400hps at best.

[Potted]

Just like starring at a eclipse without protection,just not a smart thing to do!

[Paracelsus]

Alright, I was confused after I read the LED article (which turns out to be Loony Tunes) so I reached out to
Brendan Strath Senior Solutions Director & Grow Ninja @ Spectrum King LED. Brendan sent me a detailed email on the subject of MH/HID light dangers and I am happy to share it here. The major problem is ecological not physical danger although in the case of the envelope (some have a double envelope) breaking and a flair up eye sight can be affected Some have said they experienced temporary loss of eyesight. Here is the detailed email I think the links will work.

Paracelsus,

They are not being banned for their poor spectral output but because they contain toxic waste. Unsafe heavy metals are polluting landfills all over the world and leaching into the water table. A scary amount is directly linked to improper disposal of HPS & MH bulbs.


Colorado notified all growing facilities in their state with the following letter:

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/HM_hw-marijuana-lighting-waste.pdf

The federal government has banned many bulbs and wasteful, toxic HPS and MH are closer to extinction than ever before. Basically inefficient light sources are being targeted and over time more of them are being banned. When this ban was signed:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/with-midnight-regulation-obama-energy-department-just-outlawed-your-three-way-bulb/article/2612397

With midnight regulation, Obama Energy Department just ... www.washingtonexaminer.com OPINION With midnight regulation, Obama Energy Department just outlawed your three-way bulb

Also many bulb manufacturers had to change their manufacturing processes to make more efficient bulbs which was written about here:

https://solutions.borderstates.com/updated-efficiency-standards-for-metal-halide-lamps-effective-2017/

Updated Efficiency Standards for Metal Halide Lamps ... solutions.borderstates.com As electricians and contractors, it’s important to stay up to date on lighting regulations and recent changes to efficiency standards for metal halide lamps, which ...

https://energy.gov/articles/new-ener...lls-and-reduce

New Energy Efficiency Standards for Metal Halide Lamp ... energy.gov As part of the Energy Department’s efforts to develop efficiency standards that cut carbon pollution and save money by saving energy, U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest ...

The aforementioned are just a taste of the "gov't speak" which show clearly that efficiency and waste are on the agenda to be dealt with. The wattages for banned bulbs started smaller (ie 40-60-100w incandescent bulbs) and are now working their way up to 1,000w.

The spectral dangers of UV and IR emissions are real as well and being discussed at the government level. Basically you should never stare or look into any bright light source but some people have and then want to blame someone else for that stupidity. That gets politicians talking and we'll see what they come up with, if anything pertinent. The real issue is the toxic waste but the inefficiency is a close second as a large portion of power is wasted by HPS & MH light sources and as our country looks to become more energy independent all things inefficient are getting scrutinized.

This factoid excerpt from a large article puts it best,"Although e-waste accounts for only 1 to 4 percent of municipal waste, it may be responsible for as much as 70 percent of the heavy metals in landfills, including 40 percent of all lead." That is an alarming truth and means we as a people have been polluting with toxic waste and polluting water tables for over a century. Not good for us now and definitely not good for future generations.

The Roman Empire most likely fell due to using lead pipes for their water supplies. Look that up if you get a chance. People went sterile, crazy, birth defects went way up and over time that lead to the end of their way of life. It wasn't war (although they had plenty of that) or most things we think of but lead poisoning and we've been doing that to ourselves here and now.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thank you, Brendan Strath
Senior Solutions Director & Grow Ninja

[DrPhoton]

Good share, just to be clear the UV emission dangers is related to metal halide only. Also i fail to see infrared dangers. We have infrared heaters all over the world, any issues with IR with lights would be just the same as infrared heaters. Which are used all over the world for commercial purposes.

[dontknownuttin]

My MH lamp is rated to be 10K it had a label....

[Sammy]

I've been battling skin cancer for 15 years, stage 2 stage 3 melanoma is on my back and arms, didn't get it cause by the moonlight. Most of my damage came as a young kid being in the Florida Sun with pale white skin, well it used to be pale white till the sun burnt it. Basically the dermatologist told me I was allergic to the Sun I guess that mean lights that put off any sort of radiation and or UV ... ☮️

[DrPhoton]

Genetic predisposition to malignant skin cancers. I am on a immunosuppressant which practically does the same thing. So i cannot be out in the sun for too long or i increase my chances of developing melanoma.

Best of luck to you.

[Paracelsus]

Peace!

[dontknownuttin]

I myself am a married man so I DONT FEAR DEATH.

[Paracelsus]

you make me laugh