What Viruses Does UV Light Kill?

 

Many harmful, infectious microorganisms are transmitted by various means such as droplets on surfaces, in the air and through human touch. Tuberculosis, measles, and influenza are all harmful, infectious organisms known to be transmitted between infected people to susceptible persons through shared airspace. Transmission may occur in areas of congregation within the room and also in hallways and through HVAC ductwork.

UV light emitted in the UVC range is known to kill tuberculosis, measles and influenza, and has been established in various medical journals for decades.

Ultraviolet Light Effectively Kills Many Microorganisms

Ultraviolet (UV) light emitted in the UVC wavelength predominately at 253.7 nm is proven to eliminate the threat from harmful viruses and bacteria by instantly altering cell DNA. UV light penetrates the DNA of these cells rendering them unable to replicate or cause infection, thus killing the threat from the virus.  

UV light is proven to have a germicidal effect on the following viruses: 

• Measles
• Smallpox
• Influenza virus
• SARS (SAR-Cov)
• MERS (MERS-Cov)

Microorganisms and bacteria which respond to UV light sterilization:

• Vegetative bacteria
• Staphylococcus aureus including various species:Escherichia coli (E. Coli)
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Serratia marcescens
• Streptococcus pyogenes

Viruses and vegetative bacteria are in general most susceptible to ultraviolet sterilization, followed by additional microorganism groups such as:

• Bacterial spores
• Mycobacteria
• Fungal spores

UVC germicidal lamps are effective in water, surface, and air sterilization, improving the health and wellness of people in many environments. UVC lamps in air handling units and HVAC systems eliminate the threat of airborne viruses with powerful UVC radiation sterilizing the air that flows through your ventilation system. People worldwide are improving the indoor air quality in residential and commercial environments with UV air purification systems.

LightSources is recognized worldwide as a leading global supplier of ultraviolet lamps including high-quality UVC germicidal lamps. We offer a wide selection of UV lamps designed with proprietary technology and custom engineering solutions to meet your specifications. Contact us to learn more and speak to an engineer about your UV light sterilization needs.

How UV Light Sterilization Helps Keep Hospitals Safe

 

Current events happening around the world are raising awareness of the critical care that hospitals provide, the necessity for sterile equipment and the responsibility that hospital administrators feel to provide safe healthcare to their communities.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that Healthcare Acquired Infections affect 31 people every day in the United States. 

UV Light Sterilization in Air Ventilation Systems

Diseases such as tuberculosis, measles and the influenza virus are all known to be spread through the air between infected people and others in a shared space.  Patients who enter a room after a person known to have a transmittable disease are at risk for acquiring infections and worsening their health condition. UV air purification systems are known to eliminate these harmful diseases and many others to protect vulnerable people in hospitals.

UVC Germicidal Lamps Used in Healthcare

UVC germicidal lamps have long been used to sterilize operating equipment and for use in overhead lamps in patient and operating rooms. Low-pressure mercury vapor lamps which emit wavelengths at an effective 253.7 nanometer (nm) are popular in surface and air sterilization applications.  UV sterilization lamps improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in healthcare facilities, hospitals and many public places to protect against the spread of many harmful pathogens. 

UVC sterilization lamps are proven to be highly effective, removing up to 99% of CFU counts in just one month, as reported by Avinash Kulkarni (PhD), Aeropure UV Systems Pvt Ltd, INDIA.  UVC germicidal lamps used in conjunction with an air particulate filter system provide an incremental benefit to improve the air quality and drastically reduce the risk of infection. 

LightSources Provides High-Performance UVC Germicidal Lamps

LightSources and valued partner, LightTech, offer high-tech, high-performance UVC germicidal lamps proven in demanding, germicidal applications.  We differ from other UV lamp suppliers in our commitment to research and development by a team of UV lighting engineers with deep technical knowledge of UV radiation.  The LightSources Group includes strategic partners like Cerlux, offering custom lamp bases and sockets designed with your colors for brand awareness. 

Our wide selection of UVC germicidal lamps includes:

• Low pressure mercury lamps
• Low pressure amalgam lamps
• MPUV technology
• Quartz sleeves
• Electronic ballasts

You can find our UV sterilization lamps in air, water and surface disinfection applications worldwide. We support OEMs of all sizes with high-quality products, quick turn-around time and prototype solutions. 

LightSources follows a strict quality policy as part of our ISO9001:2015 certification, ensuring timely delivery of quality lamp products.  We design, engineer and manufacture innovative lamps and lighting solutions with custom designed products available.  Contact us to speak with an engineer about your unique UV sterilization application requirement. 

UV Sterilization for Commercial Kitchens

 

Restaurants have a responsibility to their patrons to serve healthy food, free from foodborne diseases that have the potential to cause illness.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 127,000 people are hospitalized every year with an illness caused by contaminated food and nearly 3,037 people die each year from a foodborne illness.  Ultraviolet (UV) light sterilization systems provide a solution to help restaurants provide safe and healthy food.

UV sterilization systems also help a restaurant maintain a cleaner facility to comply with food safety regulations and health department inspections.  UV air purification systems also help any facility to maintain a healthier eating area by disinfecting the air in public spaces.  UV air sterilization systems are proven to remove harmful airborne pathogens to reduce the risk of contracting an airborne illness. 

Food Irradiation with UV Germicidal Lamps

Food irradiation is the term used to describe UV germicidal lamps used to preserve food with ultraviolet radiation.  Food irradiation is proven to prevent infection from bacteria and preserve food without any adverse health risks.  UV light is proven to prevent foodborne illnesses such as E. Coli and Salmonella and also preserves food by preventing early sprouting of potatoes or culmination of foodborne insects. 

Restaurants can protect their food by using UV lights above food preparation areas and countertops as well as over food buffets or serving areas. UV radiation emitted at the optimal wavelength, 254 nanometer (nm), alters the DNA of harmful pathogens including bacteria and viruses, and is effective in food irradiation and also on surface sterilization applications. 

UV Air Sterilization

UV lamps are incorporated in HVAC systems to prevent the growth of mold and mildew on cooling coils and may also be aimed to reduce airborne pathogens circulating through the ventilation system.  UV air purification systems may also incorporate ozone lamps to remove foul odor from the air.  UV kitchen exhaust systems over commercial kitchen hoods can even prevent the build up of grease by oxidizing oil fumes into carbon dioxide and water molecules to be removed by kitchen exhaust. 

UV sterilization systems in commercial kitchens provide many benefits such as:  

• Eliminates a fire hazard when used in kitchen exhaust systems by removing the threat of grease build up in the pipeline
• Improves the safety of food with food irradiation
• Eliminates bacteria and viruses on surfaces such as countertops 
• Maintains a cleaner food storage and preparation area
• Prevents mold and mildew in moist spaces such as a walk-in freezer
• UV air sterilization improves the comfort and safety of indoor diners 

UVC germicidal lamps provide these benefits and more with a low-maintenance, highly effective sterilization system.  UV sterilization systems provide solutions to restaurants and commercial kitchens with safe and effective air and surface disinfection.

LightSources is an industry leading supplier of UV lamps used in a multitude of applications, including high-tech, high-performance UVC germicidal lamps.  We support OEMs and manufacturers of UV sterilization systems with high quality lamps engineered with proprietary technology and first-to-market proven germicidal solutions.  Contact us to speak with an engineer about our wide selection of germicidal lamps or custom designed solutions to meet your germicidal needs. 

UV Germicidal Disinfection Helps Restaurants Stay Safe

Restaurants have a responsibility to provide a safe, clean environment to customers as well as to serve healthy food, free from harmful bacteria and pathogens. Foodborne illnesses cause an estimated 1,686 deaths every year in the U.S. with over 38 million reported cases of gastrointestinal illnesses. UVC lamps provide valuable benefits to all food establishments including restaurants, food and beverage processing facilities. 

UV disinfection of food products is called food irradiation and helps to prevent early spoilage and harmful bacteria and viruses from developing. Food irradiation is proven to eliminate Salmonella, E. Coli and other harmful microorganisms. UV sterilization lamps used on food products is regulated by the FDA as an approved disinfection method for use on many food items including:

• Fruits and vegetables

• Meats and raw poultry

• Many dairy products

• Beverages

UV Lamps Beneficial in Many Areas of Restaurants

In addition to improving the safety of food items, UV germicidal lamps can also be used to disinfect and sterilize surfaces such as all contact surfaces in restaurants like food preparation countertops and serving stations. UV lamps can be used in refrigerators and walk-in freezers to prevent mold and mildew which can occur in damp spaces. 

You might see UV lights over a food buffet, a deli, or over fruits and vegetables to prevent foodborne illnesses. UV disinfection in restaurants adds a layer of protection over regular cleaning methods and helps to keep patrons and staff safe from foodborne illnesses and contaminated surfaces. 

UV disinfection of surfaces in restaurants provides many benefits such as:

• Prevents mildew and mold from developing in areas that generate moisture such as refrigerators and freezers

• Sanitizes surfaces that come into contact with food items

• Automatic UV sanitizers can clean restrooms when no one is in the room

• Effectively sterilizes non-food areas and equipment

• Effectively eliminates harmful foodborne pathogens like Salmonella, E. Coli and Norovirus

LightSources Offers High-Quality UV Sterilization Lamps

LightSources supports OEMs with a wide selection of high performance UV sterilization lamps including:

• Low pressure amalgam lamps

• Low pressure mercury lamps

• Medium pressure UV lamps

• Electronic ballasts

• Quartz sleeves

LightSources is dedicated to providing leading technology and lamp products with innovative solutions. We assist OEMs with custom designed lamps and prototypes, with an in-depth expertise of UV radiation. 

LightSources leads the lamp industry with high-tech lamps, proprietary technology and the leading lighting engineers in the industry. Our lamps are proven to outlast and outperform comparable lamps with long lasting germicidal effectiveness. Contact us to speak with an engineer about our UV germicidal solutions for restaurants and any environment.

Indoor Air Protection with UV Sterilization Lamps

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is an important consideration related to the comfort and health of building occupants. IAQ is affected by the quality of air in and around buildings with airborne contaminants existing both inside and outside. Controlling pollutants inside will help to reduce risk and improve the quality of indoor air for greater health and well-being. 

Airborne contaminants that exist both inside and outside of buildings include:

• Indoor pollutants:

• Wood burning stoves

• Tobacco smoke

• Cooking

• Ozone and chemical emissions from cleaning solvents, electronic equipment and human metabolic byproducts

• Outdoor pollutants:

• Agricultural and farming

• Vehicle exhaust

• Waste management facilities

• Chemical storage areas

• Processing equipment emissions

• Combustion byproducts during manufacturing

UV Air Purifier in HVAC Systems

HVAC systems can be a great source of air pollution if dirt accumulates in the ventilation system. Dirt combined with moisture and poor management of condensation can create serious air quality problems due to biological growth. This typically occurs due to problems with the cooling coil condensation, humidifiers and other sources of moisture, poor maintenance of filters and inadequate particle filtration.

Air contaminants may be either biological, gaseous or particulate. Methods of improving air quality include eliminating the source of emissions, capturing emissions at the source with exhaust, dilution, increased ventilation, filtration and air sterilization. Of these methods, the only one that actually eliminates biological contaminants is air sterilization. HEPA filters effectively filter particles as small as .3 microns, although they are ineffective against volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present on a molecular scale.

UV air sterilization is proven to eliminate VOCs and microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, mold and fungal spores and many other air contaminants. In-duct UV air purification systems installed near the cooling coils of HVAC units prevent microbial growth on cooling coils, thus preventing the spread of these contaminants throughout the home, office or building.

UV Lamps for Air Purification Systems

LightSources is a world leading supplier of UVC germicidal lamps, supporting OEMs globally with the widest selection of germicidal lamps and custom options available. LightSources and our partner company LightTech offer UV lamps for a wide range of applications including air purification systems, water and surface sterilization.

We offer the widest range UV germicidal lamps including:

• Amalgam Lamps

• Spot and pellet technology

• Proprietary amalgam technology

• Quartz Germicidal Lamps:

• Standard output lamps

• High output lamps

• U-lamps

• Germipak UV Cell lamps

• R.P.T. UVC lamps

• Subminiature UVC lamps

• All-in-one submersible UVC lamps

• Soft Glass Germicidal Lamps:

• Compact lamps

• Standard and HO lamps

• Medium Pressure UV Lamps

• Custom MP UV lamps

• High Pressure UV Lamps

• Custom HP UV lamps

• Quartz sleeves

• Shatter+ Protech technology

• Proprietary Bases and Sockets

Our R.P.T. UVC germicidal fixtures provide a retrofit system to fight mold and bacteria in HVAC systems. RPT UVC lamps can be installed in any existing or new HVAC unit to help fight respiratory diseases and allergies. 

LightSources manufactures high quality, high-tech UVC germicidal lamps for any sterilization application. We offer prototype and proprietary solutions. Contact us to learn more about our UVC germicidal solutions.

Reduce Airborne Infections in Hospitals with UV HVAC Systems

Hospital stays may create additional illnesses for people already seeking treatment for health conditions.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that nearly 1 in 25 patients acquire an additional infection contracted from a hospital stay.  These healthcare acquired infections (HAIs) pose a real threat to those with vulnerable health conditions and may literally be a matter of life or death.  It is estimated that nearly 100,000 people die each year in the U.S. due to an HAI.

Stagnant air in healthcare facilities and hospitals create a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria to reproduce.  Harmful airborne pathogens can quickly become a source of infection to patients and hospital staff.  Hospitals can drastically reduce the risk of airborne infections with a UVC germicidal HVAC system.  By installing UVC sterilization lamps in air flow systems these harmful microorganisms are instantly eliminated before they have a chance to infect patients and staff.

How Do UVC Germicidal HVAC Systems Work? 

UV light emitted in the UVC wavelength, specifically at 254 nm or 185 nm for ozone production effectively eliminates harmful pathogens as they pass through the UV air sterilization system.  UVC radiation quickly penetrates the cells of these infectious airborne microbes to render them non-viable and unable to reproduce.  UVC germicidal lamps are proven highly effective on even the most stubborn, drug resistance pathogens such as MRSA, strep, hepatitis, tuberculosis, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), C. difficile and many other infectious microorganisms.

LightSources Leads the UVC Germicidal Lamp Industry

LightSources is a leading global supplier of UVC germicidal lamps used in air purification systems, water treatment systems and surface sterilization applications.  We offer a wide selection of high-tech, high-quality UVC lamps for any germicidal requirement and offer custom designed lamps and phosphor blends to meet specific needs. 

We support OEMs of all sizes with quick turnaround time on prototypes, proprietary lamp technology and custom designed lamp solutions.  Our UVC germicidal lamps and ozone lamps are proven to outlast and outperform comparable lamps with high efficacy and cost efficient operation.

The LightSources Group consists of the leading high-tech lamp designers and engineers available offering innovative, first to market UV lamp products. We provide high performance and cost-efficient sterilization lamps with OEM oriented solutions.  Contact us today to speak with an engineer about your UVC germicidal requirements. 

Hospitals and Patients Benefit from UVC Robots

UVC Robots are becoming more popular as a powerful germ killing machine that provides important health benefits to many industries.  The healthcare industry in particular is realizing great benefits by incorporating UV robots as part of the sterilization process in hospitals.  UV robots equipped with high-quality UVC germicidal lamps are programmed to disinfect patient rooms in between patients to thoroughly sterilize and kill any lingering viruses and bacteria.
Hospitals that incorporate UV light technology to sterilize rooms in addition to their regular cleaning routines will provide many benefits to patients, staff and to the hospital. Hospital acquired infections are more common than many people realize with about 1 in 25 people contracting an infection due to a hospital stay.  This can be devastating for the patient and lead to longer hospital stays. 
UVC radiation is proven to effectively kill almost all forms of harmful pathogens including superbugs like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).  UVC robots are even shown to effectively kill these resistant superbugs when in the line of sight and also when the virus is hiding behind objects at a rate of 99.9%. 
The success of UVC robots depends entirely on the quality of the UVC sterilization lamps on the unit.  Using high quality UVC lamps is key to realizing maximum benefit and germ killing effectiveness.
LightSources: Global Source for High-Tech UVC Germicidal Lamps
LightSources and LightTech are recognized worldwide as a valuable supplier in the UVC germicidal lamp industry.  We support OEMs of all sizes with high-tech UVC lamps in various types and configurations to meet any germicidal need.  Our lighting engineers develop prototypes and custom phosphor blends to provide the most effective and cost efficient sterilization solution.
Our UV sterilization lamps include:

• • Low Pressure Mercury Lamps – 7 various lamp types include standard and high-output, compact and soft glass lamps

• Low Pressure Amalgam Lamps – our amalgam germicidal lamps include spot and pellet amalgam with proprietary technology that outlasts and outperforms comparable lamp types

• Medium Pressure Ultraviolet Lamps (MPUV) – includes a wide variation of MPUV lamps ranging from 100 wpi to 700 wpi

• Electronic Ballasts – lightweight, high power, high efficiency and custom options available 

• Quartz Sleeves – open ended or domed type quartz protect lamps from leakage, breakage and temperature fluctuations without sacrificing performance

LightSources is a leading global supplier of UVC germicidal lamps used in a broad range of sterilization applications. We offer custom designed solutions for water, surface and air treatment systems. Contact us to speak with an engineer and learn more about the most effective UV lamps for hospital disinfection.