New ultraviolet monitoring technology

Abstract

There is a growing awareness of the hazards of ultraviolet (UV) radiation to the health of the community and to our environment's integrity. There is a need for monitoring this hazard. Until recently, UV radiation sensors tended to be relatively expensive. However, as a result of the introduction of mass-produced GaAs photodiodes in the late 1980s, UV radiation now can be measured more accurately, cost-effectively and conveniently. A new, low-cost sensor is available with a wavelength tailored to the skin's erythmal response without additional complex circuitry or filter elements; it can be used in a variety of settings.