Careful nowThe mother of a five-year-old who had his face photocopied at school fears he could have been blinded. What are the risks?
Careful nowThe mother of a five-year-old who had his face photocopied at school fears he could have been blinded. What are the risks?
It's the standard office prank to photocopy some part of the anatomy.
It's the standard office prank to photocopy some part of the anatomy.
But the experience of Luke Wilson, five, has been anything but light-hearted for his family. Complaining of sore eyes, he told his parents his face had been photocopied at school. A doctor has diagnosed allergic conjunctivitis caused by strong light, and his mother fears his eyes could be damaged.
But the experience of Luke Wilson, five, has been anything but light-hearted for his family. Complaining of sore eyes, he told his parents his face had been photocopied at school. A doctor has diagnosed allergic conjunctivitis caused by strong light, and his mother fears his eyes could be damaged.
While obviously not being something which is advisable, what exactly are the risks?
While not being a practice which would ever be advisable, what exactly are the risks?
In its guidance on operating photocopier machines, the Health and Safety Executive says ultraviolet light and ozone are the key hazards, although ozone levels are usually within an acceptable level.
Very low from a single exposure, says a spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive.
It says: "Eye irritation from glare and UV light is prevented by the provision and use of a hinged lid over the glass top of the copier. Operators should not look directly at the light."
"We would not advocate people photocopying their faces but we think it's extremely unlikely that there would be any long-term damage from a single exposure."
WHO, WHAT, WHY? A feature to the BBC News Magazine - aiming to answer some of the questions behind the headlines But eye experts play down the risks of photocopying the face once or twice.
Not all photocopiers generate ultraviolet light and most would be dissipated by the glass, he added.
WHO, WHAT, WHY? A feature to the BBC News Magazine - aiming to answer some of the questions behind the headlines Eye experts play down the risks of photocopying the face once or twice.
"It's not a good idea, let's face it," says Chris Inglehearn, Professor of Molecular Ophthalmology at Leeds University. "There are studies done on animals and if you shine a bright light into their eyes it can induce retinal degeneration, so there's evidence that very severe light exposure can damage eyes. But I suspect that this is not severe. You would have to do it a lot."
"It's not a good idea, let's face it," says Chris Inglehearn, Professor of Molecular Ophthalmology at Leeds University. "There are studies done on animals and if you shine a bright light into their eyes it can induce retinal degeneration, so there's evidence that very severe light exposure can damage eyes. But I suspect that this is not severe. You would have to do it a lot."
Triggering epilepsy would be more of a concern, he adds, because there's anecdotal evidence that this had happened in the past.
Triggering epilepsy would be more of a concern, he adds, because there's anecdotal evidence that this had happened in the past.
Infections
Infections
The eyes could be damaged by hours of photocopying, says Professor Neville Osborne, of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology in Oxford.
The eyes could be damaged by hours of photocopying, says Professor Neville Osborne, of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology in Oxford.
A one-off dose of UV through a glass photocopier is not going to do anything to your skin Dr Geoff FairrisDermatologist "But if it is just one or two flashes then I can't see it being damaging. UVB could be detrimental and can affect the lens of the eye and there's a big story around that UV light of any sort can be damaging to the lens and retina."
A one-off dose of UV through a glass photocopier is not going to do anything to your skin Dr Geoff FairrisDermatologist "But if it is just one or two flashes then I can't see it being damaging. UVB could be detrimental and can affect the lens of the eye and there's a big story around that UV light of any sort can be damaging to the lens and retina."
But you would need to be exposed for long periods. Ordinary light could even damage the retina if a person had a "stress" condition such as glaucoma.
But you would need to be exposed for long periods. Ordinary light could even damage the retina if a person had a "stress" condition such as glaucoma.
Professor Neville says the headaches and eye irritation experienced by Luke Wilson is not unexpected.
Professor Neville says the headaches and eye irritation experienced by Luke Wilson is not unexpected.
"Light can cause eye infections because it interacts with various components like mitochondria in the cells, and that interaction can result in irritation like conjunctivitis but not cell death."
"Light can cause eye infections because it interacts with various components like mitochondria in the cells, and that interaction can result in irritation like conjunctivitis but not cell death."
But what about potential damage to skin?
But what about potential damage to skin?
Ultraviolet light is made up of UVA, which can cause skin cancer but cannot travel through glass, and UVB, which ages the skin and can travel through some types of glass, says dermatologist Geoff Fairris.
Ultraviolet light is made up of UVA, which can cause skin cancer but cannot travel through glass, and UVB, which ages the skin and can travel through some types of glass, says dermatologist Geoff Fairris.
"A one-off dose of UV through a glass photocopier is not going to do anything to your skin," he says.
"A one-off dose of UV through a glass photocopier is not going to do anything to your skin," he says.
Sales reps who drive about 30,000 miles a year often have brown marks and red veins on their right cheek but not their left, he says, because UVB light travels through a car's side windows but not windscreens.
Sales reps who drive about 30,000 miles a year often have brown marks and red veins on their right cheek but not their left, he says, because UVB light travels through a car's side windows but not windscreens.
To prevent readers putting themselves at risk, the Magazine tried it and found it to be hot and bright.
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