Killing bacteria with UV light is highly effective when using UVC germicidal lamps, designed to emit shortwave UVC radiation which is proven to kill many types of bacteria as well as viruses, mold, mildew, harmful pathogens and foul odors. UV light can be divided into UVA 320-400 nm, UVB 290-320 nm, and UVC 100-290 nm, based on the wavelength, measured in nanometers (nm). UVC light when emitted from the sun is shorter wave than UVA and UVB and is entirely absorbed by the ozone layer.
UVC light exposure
would cause damage to human skin and eyes and caution must be taken when UVC
germicidal lamps are in use, although many types of UV see sterilization
systems are designed to kill bacteria without posing a risk to human health.
How Does UV Light Kill Bacteria?
UV
light has been used to kill bacteria for more than a century as this article points out
when Finsen experimented with UV light 130 years ago, and then in 1877 Downes
and Blunt published an article called “The Influence of Light Upon the Development of Bacteria”. UVC
light emits a high-frequency, shortwave electromagnetic radiation that
effectively kills bacteria, viruses and many harmful microorganisms by altering
the DNA which renders the cells unable to replicate. This inactivation of the
microbes causes cell death, mutations, and failure to reproduce thus rendering
cells harmless.
What Types of Germs and Bacteria Does
UV Light Kill?
UVC
radiation is highly effective at eliminating many types of bacteria including
drug-resistant bacteria called superbugs, viruses including many types of flu
strains, beta coronaviruses including MERS, SARS, and the SARS-CoV-2 virus that
causes COVID-19. Some of the most stubborn bacteria that UVC light is proven to
eliminate include:
•
MRSA (Methicillin-Resistand Staphylococcus Aureus)
• Salmonella
• ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli)Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus
faecium (VRE)
• Clostridium difficile
• Multidrug-resistant pseudomonas
• Carbapenemase-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC)
UVC
light effectively eliminates these types of bacteria and many others up to
99.99%, as reported in this study regarding the effectiveness of ultraviolet
air and surface sterilization systems.
Killing Bacteria with UV Light:
Effective in Many Environments
UVC germicidal lamps are used in a wide range of sterilization applications providing effective disinfection of water, surfaces, and air.
Water UV sterilization – germicidal lamps are used to kill harmful microorganisms and bacteria in water with UVC radiation in many environments including pools and spas, wastewater treatment, drinking water, aquaculture, ballast water treatment for ships and many other types of water sterilization needs. UV lamps are one of the most effective water sterilization methods and are proven to inactivate pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, which chlorine is unable to treat.
Surface UV sterilization – UVC lamps are used to disinfect and sterilize surfaces in many industries and applications including hospitals, restaurants, schools, commercial and industrial properties and public places.
Hospitals – UVC lamps sterilize surgical equipment, operating rooms, patient rooms, patient beds, surfaces, restrooms, and many other surfaces. According to a study published by Duke University, UV light can help hospitals cut transmission of four major drug resistant superbugs. Hospital acquired infections are common when patients stay overnight in a room known to have had a positive culture of a drug-resistant infection from a previous patient.
Restaurants – UVC lamps sterilize tables people eat on, kitchen counter surfaces, kitchen exhaust fans, walk-in freezers to prevent mold, over delis and in refrigerators.
Food Irradiation – UV germicidal irradiation, UVGI, is highly effective at preserving food and killing foodborne illnesses including E. Coli and Salmonella.
Air – UV air
purification efficiently disinfects and sterilizes air without the use of
hazardous waste or byproducts. UV lamps are used in air purification systems
such as upper room UVGI systems, in HVAC systems sterilizing furnaces and air
conditioning units. UVC lamps for air purification eliminate airborne viruses
as the air flows in front of the UVC radiation and they also prevent the
buildup of mold and mildew inside air condenser units which commonly occurs in
these dark, damp places. UV air purification provides cleaner and healthier air
for everyone to breathe in any environment whether residential, commercial, or
industrial. Eliminating airborne microorganisms and foul odors including
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as sulfides, mercaptans and ammonia
improves indoor air quality for all.
Killing
bacterial with UV light in these applications and many others such as in
commercial and industrial properties and public transportation systems is a
good way to help improve public health and safety.
Advantages of Killing Bacteria with UV
Light
There
are many advantages of using germicidal lamps to kill bacteria with UV light.
Some of the most recognizable benefits of UVC sterilization include:
• No
need to purchase, store, or dispose of dangerous chemicals
• No harmful byproducts from added chemical use
• UV lamps are low maintenance
• UVC sterilization is simple and safe although should be installed by a
professional
• Highly effective, immediate sterilization
• Affordable with low operating expenses
• Proven ability to kill bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew and fungi
High-Quality Germicidal UVC Lamps
LightSources
offers high-quality germicidal UVC lamps which
are long-lasting and economical to operate. We offer a wide variety of
germicidal lamps in standard and high output, quartz germicidal lamps, quartz
compact and GU lamps, standard and high-output softglass lamps, and softglass
compact lamps.
Standard low pressure mercury lamps provide the highest efficiency with 40% of
a lamps’ electrical power converted into UVC radiation at 254nm. For
applications requiring the highest UVC output, high-output mercury lamps are
the best choice as they provide approximately twice the UVC output. In both
standard and high-output (HO) UVC lamps, liquid mercury droplets collect at the
lamp’s “cold spot.” As it reaches peak temperature, it creates a mercury vapor
that produces maximum UVC output.
By operating on a lower current (between 180 and 425mA), soft glass lamps are available in standard and high output selections and provide a germicidal efficiency of 30%. The lamps are ozone free and best used for simple disinfection applications that only require a wavelength of 254nm. Other highly efficient low pressure mercury lamps are amalgam lamps. These lamps use a mercury amalgam mix to control the mercury vapor pressure. Instead of a “cold spot,” the lamp’s “amalgam spot on pellet” is used to regulate mercury vapor pressure. Amalgam lamps yield up to three times the UVC output of a standard low pressure mercury lamp of the same length. Your application will determine the type of UVC lamps that will work best for your needs.
Surface UV sterilization – UVC lamps are used to disinfect and sterilize surfaces in many industries and applications including hospitals, restaurants, schools, commercial and industrial properties and public places.
Hospitals – UVC lamps sterilize surgical equipment, operating rooms, patient rooms, patient beds, surfaces, restrooms, and many other surfaces. According to a study published by Duke University, UV light can help hospitals cut transmission of four major drug resistant superbugs. Hospital acquired infections are common when patients stay overnight in a room known to have had a positive culture of a drug-resistant infection from a previous patient.
Restaurants – UVC lamps sterilize tables people eat on, kitchen counter surfaces, kitchen exhaust fans, walk-in freezers to prevent mold, over delis and in refrigerators.
Food Irradiation – UV germicidal irradiation, UVGI, is highly effective at preserving food and killing foodborne illnesses including E. Coli and Salmonella.
Air – UV air purification efficiently disinfects and sterilizes air without the use of hazardous waste or byproducts. UV lamps are used in air purification systems such as upper room UVGI systems, in HVAC systems sterilizing furnaces and air conditioning units. UVC lamps for air purification eliminate airborne viruses as the air flows in front of the UVC radiation and they also prevent the buildup of mold and mildew inside air condenser units which commonly occurs in these dark, damp places. UV air purification provides cleaner and healthier air for everyone to breathe in any environment whether residential, commercial, or industrial. Eliminating airborne microorganisms and foul odors including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as sulfides, mercaptans and ammonia improves indoor air quality for all.
Killing
bacterial with UV light in these applications and many others such as in
commercial and industrial properties and public transportation systems is a
good way to help improve public health and safety.
Advantages of Killing Bacteria with UV
Light
There
are many advantages of using germicidal lamps to kill bacteria with UV light.
Some of the most recognizable benefits of UVC sterilization include:
• No
need to purchase, store, or dispose of dangerous chemicals
• No harmful byproducts from added chemical use
• UV lamps are low maintenance
• UVC sterilization is simple and safe although should be installed by a
professional
• Highly effective, immediate sterilization
• Affordable with low operating expenses
• Proven ability to kill bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew and fungi
High-Quality Germicidal UVC Lamps
LightSources offers high-quality germicidal UVC lamps which are long-lasting and economical to operate. We offer a wide variety of germicidal lamps in standard and high output, quartz germicidal lamps, quartz compact and GU lamps, standard and high-output softglass lamps, and softglass compact lamps.
Standard low pressure mercury lamps provide the highest efficiency with 40% of
a lamps’ electrical power converted into UVC radiation at 254nm. For
applications requiring the highest UVC output, high-output mercury lamps are
the best choice as they provide approximately twice the UVC output. In both
standard and high-output (HO) UVC lamps, liquid mercury droplets collect at the
lamp’s “cold spot.” As it reaches peak temperature, it creates a mercury vapor
that produces maximum UVC output.
By
operating on a lower current (between 180 and 425mA), soft glass lamps are
available in standard and high output selections and provide a germicidal
efficiency of 30%. The lamps are ozone free and best used for simple
disinfection applications that only require a wavelength of 254nm. Other highly
efficient low pressure mercury lamps are amalgam lamps. These lamps use a
mercury amalgam mix to control the mercury vapor pressure. Instead of a “cold
spot,” the lamp’s “amalgam spot on pellet” is used to regulate mercury vapor
pressure. Amalgam lamps yield up to three times the UVC output of a standard
low pressure mercury lamp of the same length. Your application will determine
the type of UVC lamps that will work best for your needs.
