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Measurement method for an assessment of blue light retinal risk due to monitors light emissions in a healthcare work environment

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Abstract

Short wavelength light emissions from digital devices have been the subject of various investigations in recent years, in relation to the possible damage that can be caused to the retina. In hospital work environments, the use of video terminals is now common and healthcare professionals are exposed both to the screens of medical and generic monitors. Since current European legislation on occupational health establishes exposure limit values to blue light exposure in terms of radiance, by following the most current technical reports and international guidelines a method was defined for the evaluation of the blue light radiance emitted by monitors. In addition, since blue light filtering glasses are common among the population, quantitative measurements were performed on a sample of them, in order to better quantify the exposure levels of health workers who regularly wear them. It is the intention of the authors to present a metrologically correct standard of measurement, which can be easily implemented for the assessment of the blue light hazard in a healthcare environment.

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Data Availability Statement

This manuscript has associated data in a data repository. [Authors’ comment: Data generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.]

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Andrea Bogi from the Laboratory of Public Health (Laboratorio di Sanitá Pubblica) AUSL Toscana Sud Est, section of physical agents, for the contribution to the method validation.

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Author notes

  1. Both authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SC Fisica Sanitaria, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Viale Golgi 19, Pavia, 27100, Italy

    Alice Cimino & Riccardo Di Liberto

  2. Dipartimento di Fisica, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 18, Milano, 20122, Italy

    Alice Cimino

Authors
  1. Alice Cimino
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  2. Riccardo Di Liberto
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Correspondence to Alice Cimino.

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Cimino, A., Di Liberto, R. Measurement method for an assessment of blue light retinal risk due to monitors light emissions in a healthcare work environment. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 138, 1133 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-04755-y

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