Organiser of Hong Kong Bored Ape NFT event says eye pain reported by some party-goers may be due to UVA light exposure
- At least 22 people experienced eye pain, vision problems or skin irritation after attending Bored Ape Yacht Club event held over weekend
- Doctors explain that UV light comes in varying intensity and UVA and UVB lights are commonly used in tanning beds and lamps for gel manicures
The organiser of a non-fungible token (NFT) event in Hong Kong where at least 22 people experienced eye pain, vision problems or skin irritation revealed on Thursday that UVA emitting lights were likely to be the cause of the conditions.
Bored Ape Yacht Club, owned by Yuga Labs based in the United States, said on social media that reports of the eye and skin problems suffered by some attendees and staff at Saturday’s ApeFest event at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal continued to be “deeply concerning” to them.
The company said it had launched an investigation that included “a thorough review of inventory records, material logs, and spec sheets (including paint and lighting), interviewing contractors who provided and built ApeFest installations, and conducting testing and on-site inspections”.
“This comprehensive investigation, undertaken in collaboration with Jack Morton Worldwide, the global brand experience agency that produced ApeFest 2023, has determined that UVA emitting lights installed in one corner of the event [were] … likely [to be] the cause of the reported issues related to attendees’ eyes and skin.”
The third edition of the event was held for the first time outside New York from Friday to Sunday.
