UV light exposure in our experiments comes from 3 different places:
- The gel imager that we used to take pictures of our DNA gels and paper tickets.
- The handheld UV lamp we used to preview the results of our tickets before imaging.
- The UV LEDs that we used in our imaging chamber with the VK3 camera.
To combat these issues:
- The gel imager was enclosed in a box with internal imaging capabilities to avoid exposure to UV light. We also had an orange filter that was used to protect our eyes if we wanted to look at the gel directly.
- The handheld UV lamp was not enclosed in a box, so we wore a protective face mask when using it. We also made sure to point the lamp away from ourselves and our skin.
- The UV LEDs in the VK3 camera were assembled inside a box to limit the exposure it had on our skin. This means turning off the LEDs when we were working on the assembly and making sure the box was closed when we tested the imaging design.
We understand the dangers of arsenic, so we always wore gloves when weighing out the chemicals and handling the arsenic solution. Any waste product or used tickets were placed in a container and disposed of through the environmental health chemical waste disposal program.
