Original Post:
OK would someone please explain to me how this works - through a window? I
have always been of the impression that Ultraviolet light does NOT filter
through window glass and thought the exposure had to be in direct or
reflected light. I could be wrong....but if so, I'd like to be clear on it.
So many anecdotal remedies appear to work.


Fascinating Question, Mary Kay.  The engineer in me just had to know so I
did some looking.


First I looked for what would be the optimal wave length of light to treat
Jaundice.  The information that I found from a power point presentation of a
Dr. Ruben Bromiker at
http://www.medslides.com/member/Pediatrics/Neonate_&_Newborn/Neonatal_Jaundi
ce.ppt states that the optimum wave length is 450 nanometers.

So then the next question, obviously is what range of light can pass through
glass.  For that I found a website ((I might have found my old physics book
too but did not want to look) at
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/aug97/866550494.Ph.r.html where we find
that the longer wavelengths are the more likely they are to pass through
glass.  A wavelength of 300 nanometers only passes 38% of its light through
standard glass.  A wavelength of 400 nanometers passes 91% of its light
through standard glass and as the number gets larger, the more light passes
through.

I also seem to remember hearing years ago that whoever came up with the idea
of bili lights thought of them because fewer of the babies near the windows
in the nursery had jaundice than the babies in the center of the nursery.

Anyway, cool question.

Linda Pohl, IBCLC and recovering engineer..... :)

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