Being a Bored Ape enthusiast is tough right now, with the value of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) plummeting by a staggering 88 percent. However, it’s not all bad news for these enthusiasts. They recently had the chance to meet up in person and discuss their hobby. Unfortunately, at a gathering in Hong Kong, some attendees experienced skin burns, eye pain, and even vision loss. It turns out that the event organizers used the wrong type of UV lamp as a backlight.
One attendee shared that they were diagnosed with photokeratitis, a condition caused by exposure to UVB or UVC without protection, which damages the corneal epithelial cells.
UV black lights are generally considered safe, with UVA exposure well below recognized safe limits. This has led some to speculate that the conference used UVC germicidal lamps instead. In the past, people have fallen ill after exposure to germicidal lamps, which are designed to kill bacteria and viruses rather than provide aesthetic lighting. However, it remains unclear what type of lamps were used at the conference. The organizers have stated that only a small number of attendees experienced injuries.
“We are actively reaching out and in touch with those affected to better understand the root cause,” said Yuga Labs spokesperson Emily Kitts. “Based on our estimates, the 15 people we’ve been in direct communication with so far represent less than one percent of the approximately 2,250 event attendees and staff at our Saturday night event.”
The company confirmed that guests reported vision issues, eye pain, and skin irritation after attending the conference. They expressed distress over these reports, emphasizing the importance of the health and safety of their community.
The spokesperson added that the company will continue to investigate the cause of the problems.
