Exposure to visible light and near infrared (NIR) radiation in the wavelength region of 380 to 1400 nm may cause thermal retinal injury. In this analysis, the effective spectral radiance of a hot source is replaced by its temperature in the exposure limit values in the region of 380-1400 nm. This article describes the development and implementation of a computer code to predict those temperatures, corresponding to the exposure limits proposed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). Viewing duration and apparent diameter of the source were inputs for the computer code. At the first stage, an infinite series was created for calculation of spectral radiance by integration with Planck's law. At the second stage for calculation of effective spectral radiance, the initial terms of this infinite series were selected and integration was performed by multiplying these terms by a weighting factor R(λ) in the wavelength region 380-1400 nm. At the third stage, using a computer code, the source temperature that can emit the same effective spectral radiance was found. As a result, based only on measuring the source temperature and accounting for the exposure time and the apparent diameter of the source, it is possible to decide whether the exposure to visible and NIR in any 8-hr workday is permissible. The substitution of source temperature for effective spectral radiance provides a convenient way to evaluate exposure to visible light and NIR.

This paper presents the combination of TiO/GAC catalyst and NTP for the decomposition of chloroform using a DBD reactor. The experiments were performed using an AC transformer as the power supply system to determine the optimal conditions of the chloroform conversion in the presence of a hydrogen-rich substance, that is, water vapor. TiO/GAC enhanced the removal efficiency and also CO selectivity significantly, leading to an acceptable conversion rate at SIEs higher than 400 J L. The adsorption property of GAC was noticed to be an effective factor for catalytic activity by increasing the residence time, although the higher retention time prevented the accurate determination of chlorine and carbon balance. Selectivity toward HCl was improved considerably from 24.3% to 64.3% over catalyst when water was fed as a hydrogen-rich compound. At the same time, the harmful chlorinated by-products such as TCBA and TCE declined significantly. A noticeable enhancement in the selectivity toward CO was observed when both catalyst and water were introduced, regardless of the inlet concentration. Our findings suggest that the hybrid of NTP with TiO/GAC will highly be effective in the abatement of chloroform, and the addition of HO will successfully decline harmful chlorinated by-products.

Exposure to IR-A and IR-B radiation, in the wavelength region of 780 nm to 3,000 nm, may lead to the development of cataractogenesis. Estimation of the exposure levels is the first step in controlling adverse health effects. In the present study, the irradiance of a hot blackbody emitter is replaced by its temperature in the exposure limit values for cornea and lens in the range of 780-3,000 nm. This paper explains the development and implementation of a computer code to predict a temperature, defined as Threshold Temperature, which satisfies the exposure limits already proposed by the ICNIRP. To this end, first an infinite series was created for the calculation of spectral radiance by integration with Planck's law. For calculation of irradiance, the initial terms of this infinite series were selected, and integration was performed in the wavelength region of 780 nm to 3,000 nm. Finally, using a computer code, an unknown source temperature that can emit the same irradiance was found. Exposure duration, source area, and observer distance from the hot source were entered as input data in this proposed code. Consequently, it is possible only by measurement of a Planckian emitter temperature and taking into account the distance from source and exposure time for an observer to decide whether the exposure to IR radiation in the range of 780 to 3,000 nm is permissible or not. It seems that the substitution of irradiance by the source temperature is an easier and more convenient way for hygienists to evaluate IR exposures.

Discomfort glare rating (DGR) and Unified glare rating (UGR) are main models currently used as discomfort glare evaluation systems, both of which are calculated employing four factors including the luminaire size, the luminaire position relative to the observer, background luminance, and the luminaires number and location. This study aims at proposing a simple solution for reducing DGR and thereby increasing visual comfort perception (VCP) in an interior lighting system. The proposed solution is based solely on variations of luminaire surface area without change in other factors, e.g. candlepower and number and location of luminaires in the lighting system. To this end, firstly, the equations related to DGR were modified for a desired luminaire, and, secondly, by solving the modified equations, the new luminaire surface area was obtained, which caused DGR decrease and VCP improvement. Finally, by some modifications in the location of selected luminaires having main role on DGR, the VCP rose considerably.