Applications for Using Ultraviolet Light Lamps
LOCATE PET URINE SOURCES... The amber-colored pet urine is composed of protein metabolism waste products, with feline diets typically protein richer than dogs. The urine will glow in the dark using a blacklight (longwave UV light). Since the UV light is relatively weak, it works best to darken the room as much as possible. Using lower wattage blacklights (4 watt) require being close to the inspection area with it as dark as possible.
RODENT CONTROL... Detect rodent presence and contamination in warehouses, storerooms, etc. by using an ultraviolet lamp to search out and fluoresce rodent urine. Dry rodent urine glows a blue-white if fresh to a yellow-white if old when exposed to longwave ultraviolet light. Rodent hair glows blue-white and is easily identified on sacks or intermixed with food grains.
FORGERY ANALYSIS Forgeries of bank notes, standard checks and travellers' checks are mainly printed on inferior bleached paper or photocopied. Forgeries will glow under UV light and bona fides will be completely dull. Many newer credit cards have an invisible imprint on the front. American Express uses "AMEX". If no imprint, the card is a forgery. Alterations of legal documents such as careful erasure or ink eradication and altering paper textures are detectable with UV light.
CURRENCY VERIFICATION Authentic U.S. paper currency has embedded stripes which will fluoresce under ultraviolet light as follows: $5 glows blue, $10 glows orange, $20 glows green, $50 glows yellow, and $100 glows red. The $1.00 bill has no stripe.
AUTOMOTIVE LEAK DETECTION Using longwave UV light, you can identify oil leaks by different, easily distinguishable, fluorescent colors. Applies to all types of engine oil leaks plus differential, wheel bearing, air conditioning system and brake fluid leaks. Details regarding procedure to trace different types of leaks are given on the manufacturer - UV Products website. See Ultraviolet/Lab Application Notes at http://www.luyor.net. Using UV light in combination with leak detection dye in the refrigerant charge, see http://www.luyor.net.
GEMSTONE & MINERAL INSPECTION UV Light can react with the chemicals of a mineral specimen and cause it to glow, called fluorescence. Color and intensity of the fluorescence can identifty many materials. Some minerals and gemstones will fluoresce under shortwave UV ligh and not fluoresce under longwave.
ARSON DETECTION In arson detection, accelerants' fluorescent glow is greater when exposed longer to heat. Their evidence is not always visible as they are absorbed by the fire but UV light can expose them. Volatile hydrocarbons such as gasoline, grease, paints and others fluoresce when exposed to UV, and can be seen as fragments of incendiary devices. Ambient light must be minimized for use of UV light at a fire scene.
CRIME SCENE INSPECTION Illegal dumping can be tracked at night using UV light. UV light is used to detect the presence of trace evidence in forensic investigations. Blood, urine, semen and saliva can present visible fluorescence.
ARTWORK INSPECTION UV or black light reveals changes on the surface of objects as it causes specific fluorescence in materials depending on composition and age. UV fluorescence can show overpainting or retouching and identify types of stains. One can detect repair in paintings and rugs using UV light, as differences can be seen between the chemical composition of newer inks, paints, and dyes and that of the originals. Under UV, hard-to-see cracks in such as porcelain fluoresce brightly and hidden repairs are easily detected as most adhesives become visible.
ADMISSION / ACCESS OR CROWD CONTROL In high-patronage clubs, amusement parks and swimming pools, applying quick drying readmission inks can be read easily by UV light. For beverage control, a portable, small UV light can slip in a pocket.