Abstract In August 2002, kitchen staff at a hotel in Central Scotland experienced skin and eye problems believed
to be related to their working environment. Of a total of 20 staff, eight cooks reported problems with a
painful red skin affecting the face, eyelids, side and front of neck as well as burning, gritty eyes. Five of
the affected individuals were clinically assessed in April 2003. The overall clinical impression was of
conjunctivitis and sunburn-like erythema. Examination of the data sheets of all cleaning agents and
sprays used within the kitchen pointed against an environmental phototoxin. The kitchen area was
inspected and two electric fly killers positioned on the ceiling and sidewalls were found to be
incorrectly fitted with UVC tubes. The output of these tubes was spectroradiometrically assessed. The
recommended unprotected skin and eye exposure limit was reached in 14 s at a distance of 30 cm from
the tubes. An exposure of about 60 s would be sufficient to induce minimal erythema in someone of
skin type I/II. These results demonstrate the importance of exposure to ultraviolet radiation as a
possible cause of facial erythema and conjunctivitis, no matter how unlikely this may seem. It is
recommended that there should be increased awareness of the need to fit the correct type of lamps to
electric fly killers and other devices that incorporate UV lamps.