UV Lights Likely Cause of Reported Health Issues at Yuga Labs’ ApeFest Event

• UV-A-emitting lights at ApeFest in Hong Kong were likely responsible for vision, eye pain, and skin problems for attendees.
• Yuga Labs, the NFT company, collaborated with event producer Jack Morton Worldwide to investigate complaints from 15 attendees.
• The inquiry involved on-site inspections, testing, interviews, and reviews of equipment logs.

Yuga Labs has revealed that UV-A-emitting lights were likely the cause of vision, eye pain, and skin issues reported by attendees of their ApeFest event in Hong Kong last week.

The nonfungible token (NFT) company behind the Bored Ape Yacht Club conducted a joint investigation with event producer Jack Morton Worldwide following complaints from at least 15 attendees on November 5.

In a statement on Twitter on November 9, Yuga Labs said the investigation included on-site inspections, testing, interviews with contractors, and reviews of equipment logs. It concluded that UV-A lights installed in one corner of the venue were likely responsible for the health issues.

UV-A refers to a wavelength range of ultraviolet (UV) light that accounts for 95% of the UV radiation reaching Earth’s surface. According to the US National Eye Institute, UV light exposure can increase the risk of eye problems.

Different types of UV-A lights are used for various purposes. For example, lower-wavelength lights are used in tanning beds, while higher-wavelength lights create special effects in nightclubs.

Yuga Labs did not provide details on the specific UV-A lights used at ApeFest. The festival was a free event held on November 4 for owners of the company’s Bored Ape Yacht Club and Mutant Ape NFT collections.

Yuga Labs asked the affected to contact

The company encouraged affected attendees to seek medical help and notify doctors of UV light exposure. It also asked impacted individuals to message them via Twitter, although some users noted direct messages were disabled.

“We are saddened that this incident has detracted from the experience of ApeFest attendees,” Yuga Labs wrote in their statement. “We are committed to supporting the recovery of anyone affected.”

Some Twitter users had previously speculated that UV lighting caused the issues reported at ApeFest. The event’s purpose was to bring the Bored Ape community together in real life.

Yuga Labs and Jack Morton said they will assist with the recovery of impacted attendees. The companies have not indicated if similar events will adjust lighting configurations to prevent potential UV exposure risks going forward.