Evaluation of the Levels of Radiation Emission from Elecrtic Light Sources

Abstract

In this paper, the evaluation of the levels of radiation emission from electric light bulbs were carried out, using a Gamma Scout portable (GS₂₀ model). At varied distances from 2 to 10cm with 7 energy saver bulbs and 4 incandescent bulbs were used. The readings for window 1, window 2 and windows 3 were obtained in µSv/h and pulse counts. The results of the measurement and analysis carried out revealed that, there are possible x-ray and UV radiation emission from the electric light bulbs and at a distance of 2cm. The emission was highest for the Compact fluorescent lamps which ranged from 0.71 µSv/h to 3.22 µSv/h for window 1, 0.67µSv/h to 2.83µSv/h for window 2 and 0.64 µSv/h to 2.61 µSv/h for window 3. But at farthest distance of 10cm, the emission decreased from 0.43 µSv/h to 0.30 µSv/h for window 1, 0.78 µSv/h to 0.26 µSv/h for window 2 and 0.40 µSv/h to 0.25 µSv/h for window 3. The radiation emission varied with the wattage of the bulbs for different manufacturers. However, the emission values from incandescent bulb with values 0.25 µSv/h to 0.36 µSv/h for window 1, 0.25 µSv/h to 0.40 µSv/h for window 2 and 0.25 µSv/h to 0.38 µSv/h for window 3 at 2cm distance from the light source were not as high as those of the energy saver bulbs. The values are still within the safety limit in accordance with Radiation Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation.

Keywords: Emission, energy saver bulb, gamma Scout, ionizing radiation and window.