The Finland Report

[WillemsMom]

On the [e-mail] there is some discussion about a study that has been done in Finland.
groups.yahoo.com/group/UVB_Meter_Owners/files/Jukka%20Lindgren%27s%20Finland%20study.doc There is something in the report about certain UVB Rays destroying Vitamin D.

The study is very technical and way over my head, but there are such good minds on our board, maybe some can shine some light on this issue.
There also is on the board correspondence between Bobmac and the author of the Finland study . Interesting but again over my head.

I'm mentioning this because I believe we NEED to know about the safety of our igs under UVB rays.
Can anybody clarify?

[dominick]

Nancy-

Indeed the Finland study by Jukka Lindgren is being misrepresented every time someone mentions "destructive UVB" and safety. He more than clarifies this in the conversation between Bob and Jukka. It's the whole reason Bob wrote to him in the first place, to clear up this misconception.

Fact is, as has been known for some time now, only a certain part of the UVB range is productive (290-305nm). Anything lower has little effect on biophotosynthesis, anything high actually begins to breakdown the D3 into harmless hormones. This has also been described as the "self-limiting" process that iguanas have to prevent over production of D3.

For all intents and purposes, UVB is safe for Iguanas no matter how strong AS LONG AS THERE IS A PLACE TO MOVE TO IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF THE UVB. Harness an iguana under a Mega-Ray (or any stron UVB source), too close, for too long, and it will harm the iguana. Put an iguana in the natural sun, with no means of shade and it will harm the iguana. Responsibly use your artificial or natural UVB source, following the guidelines or just good common sense and the iguana will be fine.

The only harmful UVB is that used by folks who do not know how to properly use it. Of course, the same folks bake in the sun without skin protection and frequent tanning beds.

So, I would suggest everyone read both the study and the conversation, maybe even 2 or 3 times like I had to, in order to better understand what the study intended to prove and hear from the author himself what he intended to discover.

I take this position because trying to explain a thing without the full understanding of the thing leads to misconceptions and this study has already run that course. Jukka is quite upset that his study results were distorted in order to try and prove people's opinions against Mercury Vapor lighting solutions. He is about to begin a new study and the Mega-Ray as well as other current lamps will be tested.

Rest assured, your iguana under a Mega-Ray or most other lamps is perfectly safe when used according to guidelines.

[WillemsMom]

Thanks, Dom. I was sure you would post.
One of my questions is..do iguanas know when they need to move away from the rays. Willie moves away often and I worry that he's not getting enough exposure. Are there any numbers as to how many hours an ig should be under the MegaRay? Thanks, Dom

Where have you been, guy?

[dominick]

Hi Nance-

My light and love to you always.

Based on what I know, yes, iguanas do know when to move away from the light (no pun intended). They have the ability to know when they have had enough. We're not sure how they know it, but studies have shown that they will not just sit forever. Something inside of them, based on physiology, tells them to move to shade.

It is my understanding the old standard of 10-12 hours under UVB at 12" was true for lights hitting 10-20 mW/cm2. With a strong lamp like Mega-Ray, you can cut back the time by a few hours. Being under the strong UVB of Mega-Ray the iguana can actually go for a few days without UVB since they have maximized D3 metabolism. Not recommended, but true none-the-less. So, I think Willie is getting plenty of exposure to spite his frequent moves to "shade".

UVB exposure levels are measured by blood serum levels. Kinda hard for the hobbyist to do, since it involves testing blood for hydroxy levels.

[IguanaKing]

I have a theory about that. Natural sunlight also has LOTS of IR. I think it probably has something to do with their core temperature. If you keep the MegaRay in the hot spot in his cage, it should roughly simulate sunlight, he'll get hot and move before overdosing on UVB. Anyway...just a theory.

[dominick]

O-M-G!

I wrote a whole paragraph on how I theorize that core temps have something to do with the self-regulatory process after having studied Rex in the outside basking tree, taking temp with a no contact gun and timing his movements for weeks at a time. Then, thinking that it would never pass muster with you without a serious debate, and fearing I may get in over my head (not to mention a serious tongue-lashing from Tesa) I deleted the paragraph and posted as is. LOL

Thanks Sean. You may have validated my own data!

[WillemsMom]

LOL this is wonderful! Thank you both so much. I'm very glad to have your input. Knowing that Will will know when it's time to move is a relief.

Dom.. love and light to you always, too.
You have been so invisible, but I'm glad your back with your input.

[IguanaKing]

NP Dom ;D,

Have you ever tried your experiment on an overcast day? The clouds do a MUCH better job attenuating IR than UVB, so there'll still be lots of UVB there. I wonder if iguanas still have enough sense to seek shade on days like that before overexposure...I know humans don't (I got my worst sunburn by spending all day on the beach on an overcast, grey day...with no sunscreen...DUH ).