UV-C Technology



Ultraviolet (UV) Light


The ultraviolet spectrum is a band of electromagnetic (EM) radiation at higher energies (i.e., shorter wavelengths) than visible light. It is emitted from natural sources like the sun - or from artificial sources like fluorescent lights, tanning bed bulbs and some lasers.

Ultraviolet light is invisible to the human eye and is measured by its wavelength on the electromagnetic spectrum. Wavelength describes the distance between peaks in a series of waves and is classified by nanometers (nm).

There are three categories of UV light, based on wavelengths. UV-A (315-399 nm) rays have the longest wavelengths, followed by UV-B (280-314 nm) and UV-C (100-279 nm) rays, which have the shortest wavelengths.



History and Efficacy of UV-C Technology


UV-C light is a powerful and effective germicidal tool that has been used to disinfect hospital rooms, laboratories and factories for decades. When used properly, UV-C irradiation can be an environmentally-friendly and chemical-free way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and promote a healthier environment.

UV-C technology is proven to be lethal against contagious airborne and surface pathogens. UV-C light inactivates microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria by destroying its nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid), leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions.

The benefits of UV-C technology are recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), World Health Organization (WHO), National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).



Niels Ryberg Finsen was the first to use UV rays to treat bacterial infections and diseases. He won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1903 for developing a UV treatment for skin tuberculosis.
As early as 1845, Arthur Downes and T.P. Blunt discovered that sunlight prevented the growth of microorganisms. They demonstrated that sunlight was able to neutralize bacteria dependent on intensity, duration, and wavelength.