ASTM E1733-22

Standard Guide for Use of Lighting in Laboratory Testing

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 The information in this guide is designed to allow investigators conducting research or tests of environmental relevance to select appropriate light sources.  
5.2 Investigators will be able to make reasonable selections of light sources based on cost, the requirements of the test organisms, and the properties of the test chemicals.  
5.3 These methods have major significance for the comparison of results between laboratories. Investigators at different sites will be able to select similar light sources. This will provide standardization of a factor that can have major impact on the effects of hazardous chemicals.
SCOPE
1.1 The use of artificial lighting is often required to study the responses of living organisms to contaminants in a controlled manner. Even if the test organism does not require light, the investigator will generally need light to manipulate the samples, and the test might be conducted under the ambient light of the laboratory. One will need to consider not only whether the particular test organism requires light for growth, but also whether the environmental compartment relevant to the test is exposed to light and, if so, what the attributes of light are in that compartment. The light could affect growth of the organism or toxicity of a contaminant, or both. For instance, it has been shown that the toxicity of some organic pollutants is enhanced dramatically by the ultraviolet (UV) radiation present in sunlight (1, 2) .2 Furthermore, the level of ambient lighting in the laboratory (which might affect the test) is not standardized, nor is it comparable to natural environments. It is thus important to consider lighting in all forms of environmental testing. When light is used in the test, one should determine whether the spectral distribution of the radiation source mimics sunlight adequately to be considered environmentally relevant. Also, the container or vessel for the experiment must be transparent, at the point of light entry, to all of the spectral regions in the light source needed for the test.  
1.2 It is possible to simulate sunlight with respect to the visible:UV ratio with relatively inexpensive equipment. This guide contains information on the types of artificial light sources that are commonly used in the laboratory, compositions of light sources that mimic the biologically relevant spectral range of sunlight, quantification of irradiance levels of the light sources, determination of spectral outputs of the light sources, transmittance properties of materials used for laboratory containers, calculation of biologically effective radiation, and considerations that should go into designing a relevant light source for a given test.  
1.3 Special needs or circumstances will dictate how a given light source is constructed. This is based on the requirements of the test and the environmental compartment to which it is targeted. Using appropriate conditions is most important for any experiment, and it is desirable to standardize these conditions among laboratories. In extreme cases, tests using unusual lighting conditions might render a data set incomparable to other tests.  
1.4 The lighting conditions described herein are applicable to tests with most organisms and using most chemicals. With appropriate modifications, these light sources can be used under most laboratory conditions with many types of laboratory vessels.  
1.5 The attributes of the light source used in a given study should list the types of lamps used, any screening materials, the light level as an energy fluence rate (in W m−2 ) or photon fluence rate (in μmol m−2 s−1 ), and the transmission properties of the vessels used to hold the test organism(s). If it is relevant to the outcome of a test, the spectral quality of the light source should be measured with a spectroradiometer and the emission spectrum provided graphically for reference.  
1.6 The sections of this guide are arranged as foll...

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2022
• ICS: 91.160.10 - Interior lighting
• Technical Committee: E50 - Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action
• Drafting Committee: E50.47 - Biological Effects and Environmental Fate

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E1733 − 22
Standard Guide for
1
Use of Lighting in Laboratory Testing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1733; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.3 Special needs or circumstances will dictate how a given
lightsourceisconstructed.Thisisbasedontherequirementsof
1.1 The use of artificial lighting is often required to study
the test and the environmental compartment to which it is
the responses of living organisms to contaminants in a con-
targeted. Using appropriate conditions is most important for
trolledmanner.Evenifthetestorganismdoesnotrequirelight,
any experiment, and it is desirable to standardize these condi-
the investigator will generally need light to manipulate the
tionsamonglaboratories.Inextremecases,testsusingunusual
samples, and the test might be conducted under the ambient
lighting conditions might render a data set incomparable to
light of the laboratory. One will need to consider not only
other tests.
whether the particular test organism requires light for growth,
but also whether the environmental compartment relevant to
1.4 The lighting conditions described herein are applicable
thetestisexposedtolightand,ifso,whattheattributesoflight
to tests with most organisms and using most chemicals. With
are in that compartment. The light could affect growth of the
appropriate modifications, these light sources can be used
organism or toxicity of a contaminant, or both. For instance, it
under most laboratory conditions with many types of labora-
has been shown that the toxicity of some organic pollutants is
tory vessels.
enhanceddramaticallybytheultraviolet(UV)radiationpresent
2 1.5 The attributes of the light source used in a given study
insunlight (1, 2). Furthermore,thelevelofambientlightingin
shouldlistthetypesoflampsused,anyscreeningmaterials,the
thelaboratory(whichmightaffectthetest)isnotstandardized,
−2
light level as an energy fluence rate (in W m ) or photon
nor is it comparable to natural environments. It is thus
−2 −1
fluencerate(inµmolm s ),andthetransmissionproperties
important to consider lighting in all forms of environmental
of the vessels used to hold the test organism(s). If it is relevant
testing. When light is used in the test, one should determine
to the outcome of a test, the spectral quality of the light source
whetherthespectraldistributionoftheradiationsourcemimics
shouldbemeasuredwithaspectroradiometerandtheemission
sunlightadequatelytobeconsideredenvironmentallyrelevant.
spectrum provided graphically for reference.
Also, the container or vessel for the experiment must be
transparent, at the point of light entry, to all of the spectral
1.6 The sections of this guide are arranged as follows:
regions in the light source needed for the test.
Title Section
Referenced Documents 2
1.2 It is possible to simulate sunlight with respect to the
Terminology 3
visible:UV ratio with relatively inexpensive equipment. This
Summary of Guide 4
Significance and Use 5
guide contains information on the types of artificial light
Safety Precautions 6
sources that are commonly used in the laboratory, composi-
Lamps 7
tions of light sources that mimic the biologically relevant
Artificial Lighting 7.1
Light Sources 7.2
spectralrangeofsunlight,quantificationofirradiancelevelsof
Construction of Artificial Light Sources that Mimic Sunlight 8
the light sources, determination of spectral outputs of the light
Sunlight 8.2
sources, transmittance properties of materials used for labora-
Visible Light 8.2
Visible Light Plus UV-B Radiation 8.3
tory containers, calculation of biologically effective radiation,
Simulated Solar Radiation 8.4
and considerations that should go into designing a relevant
Transmission Properties of Lamp Coverings and Laboratory Vessels 9
light source for a given test.
Lamp Coverings 9.2
Laboratory Vessels 9.3
Measurement of Light 10
Light Components 10.1
1
Measurement of Light Quantity 10.2
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE50onEnvironmental
Spectroradiometry 10.3
Assessment, Risk Management and CorrectiveAction and is the direct responsibil-
Biologically Effective Radiation 11
ity of Subcommittee E50.47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate.
Considerations for Designing Light Sources for Environmental Testing 12
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2022. Published September 2022. Originally
approvedin1995.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2014asE1733–95(2014).DOI:
1.7 T
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E1733 − 95 (Reapproved 2014) E1733 − 22
Standard Guide for
1
Use of Lighting in Laboratory Testing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1733; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 The use of artificial lighting is often required to study the responses of living organisms to contaminants in a controlled
manner. Even if the test organism does not require light, the investigator will generally need light to manipulate the samples, and
the test might be conducted under the ambient light of the laboratory. One will need to consider not only whether the particular
test organism requires light for growth, but also whether the environmental compartment relevant to the test is exposed to light
and, if so, what the attributes of light are in that compartment. The light could affect growth of the organism or toxicity of a
contaminant, or both. For instance, it has been shown that the toxicity of some organic pollutants is enhanced dramatically by the
2
ultraviolet (UV) radiation present in sunlight (1, 2). Furthermore, the level of ambient lighting in the laboratory (which might
affect the test) is not standardized, nor is it comparable to natural environments. It is thus important to consider lighting in all forms
of environmental testing. When light is used in the test, one should determine whether the spectral distribution of the radiation
source mimics sunlight adequately to be considered environmentally relevant. Also, the container or vessel for the experiment must
be transparent, at the point of light entry, to all of the spectral regions in the light source needed for the test.
1.2 It is possible to simulate sunlight with respect to the visible:UV ratio with relatively inexpensive equipment. This guide
contains information on the types of artificial light sources that are commonly used in the laboratory, compositions of light sources
that mimic the biologically relevant spectral range of sunlight, quantification of irradiance levels of the light sources, determination
of spectral outputs of the light sources, transmittance properties of materials used for laboratory containers, calculation of
biologically effective radiation, and considerations that should go into designing a relevant light source for a given test.
1.3 Special needs or circumstances will dictate how a given light source is constructed. This is based on the requirements of the
test and the environmental compartment to which it is targeted. Using appropriate conditions is most important for any experiment,
and it is desirable to standardize these conditions among laboratories. In extreme cases, tests using unusual lighting conditions
might render a data set incomparable to other tests.
1.4 The lighting conditions described herein are applicable to tests with most organisms and using most chemicals. With
appropriate modifications, these light sources can be used under most laboratory conditions with many types of laboratory vessels.
1.5 The attributes of the light source used in a given study should list the types of lamps used, any screening materials, the light
−2 −2 −1
level as an energy fluence rate (in W m ) or photon fluence rate (in μmol m s ), and the transmission properties of the vessels
used to hold the test organism(s). If it is relevant to the outcome of a test, the spectral quality of the light source should be measured
with a spectroradiometer and the emission spectrum provided graphically for reference.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibility
of Subcommittee E50.47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2014Aug. 1, 2022. Published December 2014September 2022. Originally approved in 1995. Last previous edition approved in 20082014
as E1733–95(2008).E1733–95(2014). DOI: 10.1520/E1733-95R14.10.1520/E1733-22.
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of this guide.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
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E1733 − 22
1.6 The sections of this guide are arranged as follows:
Title S
...