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To the Editor.
—The appearance of erythema on the skin of two infants exposed to fluorescent lights as treatment for hyperbilirubinemia has come to the attention of the Food and Drug Administration. On-site investigation of the incident by personnel of the FDA Bureau of Radiological Health indicated that the clinical determination of erythema was consistent with the measured ultraviolet exposure levels. The occurrence indicates an urgent need to alert physicians and hospitals to the possibility of injury to the exposed infant from certain exposure conditions that may be used in phototherapy.Hazardous levels of ultraviolet radiation, which are not effective in phototherapy, and extremely intense visible radiations can be present in the output of fluorescent lamps. The agency strongly recommends that any institution, or physician, using phototherapy in the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia immediately take the following precautions:
Shield fluorescent lamps with ultraviolet absorbing filter materials made from selected plastics or