Study of Flash Burns: The Effect of Spectral Distribution on the Production of Cutaneous Burns

Abstract

Radiation from the carbon arc, modified by four Coming glass filters with successive cutoff points separated by about I5OO A, was used to produce cutaneous bums in pigs at a constant ejcposure time of 0.5 sec. It was found that the ^O^ effective expostires for 1+, 2+ and 3+ burns increased progressively with increase in wavelength. The effect of varying both spectral distribution and exposure times on the production of 2+ bxims was also investigated. At O.5 sec. the requirements of radiant energy of wavelength greater than 65OO A was 27^ greater than that of wavelength greater than 360O A. At 2.0 and Ij-.O sec. it was k2^ greater. The increase from 27^ to k2^ with increase of e3q)os\ire from O.5 to 2.0 or k.O sec. is significantly different at the 0.95 level of confidence. This demonstrates a failure of reciprocity of time-intensity relationships of different magnitTide with the two different filters in burn production.

A Universal Spectrophotometer for the Measurement of the Relative Spectra Distribution of the Carbon Arc Source

“…Dtiring the course of various investigations of the effects of different physical factors upon the production of burns in this laboratory^ a need has arisen for data concerning the relative spectral energy distribution of the 2i|-" carbon arc (5) employed as a radiation source in these researches (1,2,3)• Such studies as the influence of wavelength upon the production of burns and the protective effect of fabrics become more meaningful vhen the spectral distribution of the source is known.…”