Where Is UVC Water Sterilization Used?

UV water purification is popular worldwide to sterilize water for many different types of industries and applications. UVC germicidal lamps are used to sterilize water to improve health and wellness in the following applications:

Wastewater treatment  - UVC germicidal lamps help to eliminate bacteria and viruses and provide additional sanitary measures when used in conjunction with filtration.  

Drinking water - UV lamps are used to sterilize drinking water to provide safe and healthy water for communities in urban and rural environments. UVC technologies are effective at sterilizing water for safe drinking and also eliminate harmful bacteria including cryptosporidium and giardia bacterium that are resistant to chlorine.

Aquaculture - UV disinfection is a critical tool used to improve the health and well-being of marine life in fish hatcheries and promotes safe and healthy fish production. Improving water quality without the use of chemicals is important to the health of fish and marine life. UVC sterilization provides a solution which improves water quality without harmful byproducts.

Ballast water for ships - ship transportation is a critical aspect of the global economy with ships leaving one dock and landing and another on the other side of the world on a regular basis. This interrupts marine life ecosystems and introduces harmful, predatory species to new environments which can wreak havoc on human life in the area. Transportation ships are required to treat their ballast water prior to discharging in a new area. UVC technology is an approved method of ballast water treatment meeting U.S. Coast Guard and international requirements.

UVC lamps are used to improve these water applications and many others with UVC germicidal lamps emitting UVC electromagnetic radiation in the range of 185 nm for ozone lamps or 254 nm for UV sterilization.

LightSources is a leading global supplier of high tech UVC germicidal lamp solutions. You can find our UVC sterilization lamps worldwide in air, surface, and water sterilization applications. Contact us to learn more about our UVC lamps for water sterilization and other germicidal solutions.

How UV Light Kills Bacteria on Surfaces

Killing bacteria with UV light is a highly effective method of improving health and safety with reliable sterilization and disinfection of many surfaces. Ultraviolet (UV) light is emitted from the sun in basically three different wavelengths, either UVA, UVB, or UVC. UVC is shortwave radiation that is entirely absorbed by the ozone layer. It is these UVC radiation wavelengths, measured in nanometers at the most effective 254 nm wavelength, which eliminates many types of bacteria and viruses. UVC light emitted at 185 nm produces ozone.

UVC germicidal lamp engineers replicate 185 nm UVC radiation for ozone lamps and 254 nm UVC radiation for many other types of effective sterilization lamps. UVC lamps are used in sterilization systems to disinfect surfaces, water, and air with high efficacy and many benefits.

What Types Of Surfaces Can You Disinfect with UVC Lamps?

UVC lamps are beneficial in almost any environment on many types of surfaces. Because surfaces need direct exposure to UVC lamps, when they are already cleaned with manual cleaning methods UVC energy is better absorbed. This is why UVC lamps provide a safety net with additional measures to ensure disinfection when used in conjunction with manual cleaning methods especially in environments like hospitals and medical care facilities.

UVC lamps are being utilized to disinfect surfaces in a wide range of environments such as residential homes, industrial operations, and commercial properties in public places. UVC lamps have been used for decades to sterilize surfaces and hospitals such as surgical equipment and operating rooms as well as patient rooms especially those known to have contracted a serious infection. Germicidal lamps are proven to eliminate bacteria called superbugs. UVC lamps effectively eliminate many types of superbugs like MRSA, C., Diff., E.Coli, Salmonella and many others making them a great addition to hospital sterilization methods

UVC robots are becoming more popular as they provide effective sterilization after manual cleaning crews have left a patient room and can reach many places missed by manual cleaning methods.

UVC lamps are beneficial to sterilize surfaces in many environments such as:

• Hospitals

• Restaurants

• Food irradiation

• Industrial commercial properties

• Schools

• Libraries

• Public transportation systems

• Residential homes

UVC germicidal lamps provide high efficacy up to 99.9999% elimination of bacteria and viruses, are low maintenance without the need to purchase, store or dispose of harmful chemicals and leave no hazardous byproduct. The quality of UVC germicidal lamps makes a difference in the efficacy and lifetime performance.

LightSources offers a wide range of UVC germicidal lamp solutions to meet disinfection requirements of various surface sterilization systems. Our UVC lamps are used to sterilize surfaces, air and water in a number of disinfection applications worldwide. Contact us to learn more about our high-performance, long-lasting, innovative UVC germicidal lamp solutions.

How UVC Lamps are Helping Hospitals

Hospitals provide lifesaving treatments with modern medicine and staff dedicated to healing sick individuals. Unfortunately, as much effort is focused on sanitizing and sterilizing all surfaces in hospitals, many people contract an additional illness from a hospital stay when seeking treatment for a health condition. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, estimate that approximately 1 in 25 people who are admitted as patients to a hospital contract an additional infection from their hospital stay. This is referred to as a hospital acquired infection, HAI, and it is estimated that approximately 100,000 people die every year from an HAI in the United States.

UVC Germicidal Lamps Help Sterilize Hospitals

Surfaces in hospital patient rooms and stagnant air circulating through hospitals can create a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Patients ill with antibiotic resistant infections, commonly called superbugs, can leave behind transmissible germs even with thorough manual cleaning.  UVC germicidal lamps significantly improve sterilization rates when combined with manual cleaning tactics and are proven effective at eliminating many superbugs such as MRSA, SARS and even the Sars-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. 

UVC Lamps Sterilize Air, Surfaces, and Water

UVC germicidal technology is utilized in hospitals in a number of ways.  UVC germicidal lamps installed in HVAC, air-conditioning units or upper room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, UVGI, units are proven to improve indoor air quality, sterilize and purify the air. UV sterilization lamps are also utilized to disinfect many surfaces in hospitals including operating rooms, patient rooms, and to directly sterilize medical equipment and surgery devices.  UVC lamps are also used in water applications to prevent bacteria, mold or mildew and ensure clean and sterile water.

UVC Robots Help Hospitals Stay Clean

In addition to UVC germicidal lamps used in air, water, and surface sterilization systems, UVC robots are becoming more popular in hospitals and many other public places. Robots equipped with UVC sterilization lamps can roam hospital rooms and reach places that manual cleaning cannot reach, providing a safety net with powerful UV radiation proven to kill viruses and germs.

LightSources offers UVC germicidal lamps for hospital sterilization and all applications including water, surface, air, and UVC robots. We are a leading global supplier of UV sterilization lamps with a wide range of product sizes to meet any application need as well as custom-designed solutions to meet your germicidal requirements. Contact us to learn more about improving sterilization and hospitals, medical facilities, and any other environment.

UV Sterilization Lamps for Surface, Air and Water Sterilization

Ultraviolet, UV, sterilization lamps are lamps that are designed and engineered to emit ultraviolet radiation in the UVC range which is extremely effective at destroying many viruses and bacteria. UVC germicidal lamps are used in a wide range of industries and applications to sterilize surfaces, sanitize and purify the air we breathe, and eliminate waterborne viruses and bacteria.  LightSources is a leading global supplier of UVC germicidal lamps proven in nearly any type of surface, air, or water sterilization application.

UVC Lamps for Surface Sterilization

UVC germicidal lamps are used in many industries and applications to sterilize surfaces including:

• Hospitals

• Restaurants 

• Grocery stores

• Research labs

• Schools

• Public places

• Commercial and residential environments

UV Germicidal Lamps for Air Purification

UVC lamps are effective at eliminating airborne viruses when properly installed in HVAC units and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, UVGI, units. UV air sterilization systems can be installed in nearly any environment such as residential homes, commercial and public properties and industrial applications. UVC lamps in HVAC units help to sterilize and purify the air in two different ways, by treating air circulating through the system as well as preventing mold from accumulating on condenser units.

UVC Lamps for Water Sanitation

UVC lamps are used in a broad range of water sterilization applications such as in wastewater treatment plants and many other applications which require sterilized and purified water. UVC radiation can actually kill waterborne viruses that chlorine does not. And is used in many water applications such as:

• Wastewater treatment

• Pools and spas

• Life-sciences

• Ballast water treatment systems

• Aquaculture

UVC germicidal lamps for water purification are highly effective.  LightSources offers a wide range of UVC germicidal lamps proven in water sanitation applications and developed with proprietary technology such as our pellet amalgam germicidal lamp technology. We offer low pressure, medium pressure, high pressure, and amalgam technology as well as UVC ozone lamps proven in many water sterilization applications.

LightSources offers UVC germicidal lamps for any sterilization application. Our lighting engineers possess deep technical knowledge and assist customers with custom-designed germicidal solutions to meet their application needs. Contact us to learn more about our UVC germicidal lamps and how to incorporate them in your application for a cleaner and healthier, sterilized environment.

Does UV Light Kill Covid?

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is the virus that causes COVID-19 and a devastating global pandemic that began in early 2020. As of January 1, 2022, according to the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center Global Map, there have been 5,442,655 deaths globally and over 825,982 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the U.S. alone. Public health systems and economies continue to struggle against the changing variants such as the latest omicron variant which is spreading rapidly.

For more than 100 years, ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been used to disinfect and sterilize many environments, and public health officials are realizing that UV light provides an added layer of protection against infection from many viruses and bacteria, including SARS-CoV-2.

Does UV Light Kill Covid?

According to an article published by the American Journal of infection control, regarding the Susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 to UV irradiation, published in August 2020, UV light effectively sterilizes a wide range of microorganisms and is an added tool for use in reaction to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While more research has yet to be completed regarding the exact dosage and exposure time of UVC radiation to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, UVC sterilization systems are proven to eliminate other coronaviruses in the same beta coronavirus family. UVC radiation effectively eliminates the viruses that cause MERS and SARS, other respiratory outbreaks caused by a coronavirus.

A recent article published in Medical Life-Sciences, explains how UVC sterilization systems can be an extra layer of defense against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. UVC sterilization systems can be utilized in many public places including hospitals, restaurants, hotels, airports, universities, public transportation systems and more. 

Exposure to UVC radiation can harm the skin and eyes.  These systems such as UVC robots should be used without direct exposure to human contact and under the advice of a professional with correct UVC disinfection systems properly installed for maximum efficacy and operation.

LightSources is a leading global supplier of UV lamps and lighting solutions including UVC germicidal lamps for air sterilization, surface and water disinfection applications. We offer OEM oriented solutions with custom lamp designs, prototype development, a strict quality policy and quick turnaround time. Contact us to learn more about our UVC germicidal lamp solutions proven in sterilization systems worldwide.

How Phototherapy Helps Eczema

According to the National Eczema Association, eczema refers to a group of skin conditions that cause different symptoms such as itchiness, inflammation, and dry patches of skin. Eczema is quite common with more than 31 million people in the U.S. having some type of eczema. There are seven different types of eczema which include:

1. Atopic dermatitis

2. Contact dermatitis

3. Nummular eczema

4. Neurodermatitis

5. Seborrheic dermatitis

6. Stasis dermatitis

7. Dyshidrotic eczema

Eczema can appear any time from childhood to adulthood with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The exact cause of eczema is unknown although we do know that it is not contagious and seems to develop from a combination of environmental triggers and genes.

One common treatment for eczema is light therapy, which can help to reduce symptoms of itchiness and inflammation in children and adults.

What to Expect with Phototherapy for Eczema?

Patients find relief with light therapy for eczema which should be prescribed by your doctor with specialized UV phototherapy lamps. Phototherapy lamps emit either UVA or UVB wavelengths with narrowband UVB proven effective to treat eczema. Phototherapy lamps can be used to treat just certain areas or the entire body where patients would stand in an enclosed area with protective eyewear while being exposed to phototherapy lamps. 

Sometimes a cream or lotion can be applied prior to UV exposure, or medication called psoralen may be used in combination with UVA treatments to provide better results. It may take a month or two of regular visits to see an improvement, although some patients can experience remission and reduce the number of visits. 

Many people with eczema experience flare-ups during fall and winter with less sun exposure. For those patients with improved skin conditions during the summer months, light therapy is more likely to provide positive results.

Phototherapy Lamps for Eczema

Be sure to use high-quality light therapy lamps for any type of phototherapy treatment. LightSources is a leading global supplier of high quality UV lamps found worldwide in a wide range of applications such as medical phototherapy treatment, UVC germicidal applications, and more. We are an ISO 9001:2015 registered company offering OEM oriented solutions with prototype development, quick turnaround time, and custom-designed UV lamp solutions from the top UV lighting engineers in the industry.

LightSources offers a wide selection of high quality UV lamps found in air purification, water sterilization and surface disinfection applications worldwide. We offer custom-designed UVC lamps and phototherapy lamps, providing solutions to OEMs of all sizes. Contact us to learn more about our UV lamp solutions.

How to Select a Light Therapy Box for Seasonal Depression

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, seasonal depression that occurs during fall and winter months due to a lack of sunlight affects approximately 4 to 6% of people. Seasonal Affective Disorder, also called SAD, can affect another 10 to 20% of people and is four times more likely to occur in women than in men. SAD is also more common in northern locations such as Washington state as opposed to a more southern and sunny state like Florida.

Light therapy with a medical phototherapy lamp, also called a light therapy box, can help to alleviate some symptoms of seasonal depression although can be more effective when combined with additional treatments such as psychotherapy and antidepressant medication.

How Light Therapy Treatment for Depression Works

Light therapy boxes mimic outdoor sunlight, which is believed to cause a chemical change in the brain that eases symptoms of seasonal depression and lifts your mood. Generally, a light therapy box should emit as little UV light as possible and should provide an exposure to 10,000 lux of light.

Recommendations for using light therapy include:

• Using for about 20 to 30 minutes within the first hour of waking up

• Have your eyes open but do not look directly at the light

• Keep the lamp a distance of 16 to 24 inches away from your face

Light therapy boxes are designed with special medical phototherapy lamps. Some people might think that a tanning bed provides the same benefit although this is not true. Tanning bed lamps are quite different and are known to increase the risk of skin cancer. While light therapy for seasonal depression is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, they are designed to be safe and effective.

Your doctor can help to recommend a specific type of light therapy box, although you can buy one without a prescription and most health insurance plans will not cover the cost.

Considerations When Choosing a Light Therapy Box

It is best to speak with your doctor about your symptoms and for help in choosing the right type of light therapy treatment. For people with bipolar disorder, too much exposure could induce manic symptoms. People with eye conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, or eye damage from diabetes should speak with their eye doctor before beginning phototherapy.

When choosing a light therapy box make sure that it is specifically designed to treat seasonal depression. Many medical phototherapy lamps are designed to treat skin disorders such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, and vitiligo. Medical therapy lamps designed for skin conditions are not the same as lamps designed for depression.  Tanning lamps and UVC germicidal lamps are also not designed with the same wavelength and can cause harm instead of benefits if used incorrectly. 

LightSources is a leading global supplier of UV lamp solutions including medical phototherapy lamps. We provide high-tech, custom designed and engineered lamps for a wide range of applications and industries, including phototherapy. Contact us for high-quality UV lamp solutions including light therapy lamps for seasonal depression.