Is UV Light a ‘Proven’ Virus Disinfectant?

Is UV Light a ‘Proven’ Virus Disinfectant? Ultraviolet radiation is the part of the electromagnetic band spreading to the X-ray area directly from the short-wavelength or violet, finish of the noticeable light set. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is untraceable to the human eye.

Still, it may allow them to reflect light as it falls on some other objects, i.e., it releases lower-energy electromagnetic radiation, such as observable light.

Ultraviolet light is emitted as a continuous range of wavelengths by the Sun. Some of the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight is captured into Earth’s atmosphere by oxygen, which creates the lower stratosphere’s ozone layer.

Why practice UV light to disinfect?

UVC wavelengths range between 200 to 300 nanometers, which gives them properties of a disinfectant; it means they can efficiently inactivate or kill microbes like bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. This germicide superiority makes UV energy operative, ecologically safe.

It is a chemical-free way of preventing the reproduction of microorganisms in any climate. It works well in places like hospitals.

Drinking-Water Treatment with UV Irradiation

Ultraviolet light is considered an efficient disinfectant as a water treatment strategy because of its good germicidal (inactivating) performance. UV disinfectant potentially washes microorganisms- and virus-containing water and maybe defensive against protozoans such as Giardia lamblia cysts or Cryptosporidium oocysts.

Use of UV light disinfection for environmental surfaces

A crucial step in avoiding the transmission of infectious agents is the successful disinfection of the environmental surfaces. Old methods of cleaning are necessary if the infection is to be removed appropriately. However, in many circumstances, terminal cleaning is often suboptimal or unpredictable.

UV radiation is a modern technique for disinfection that may destroy a broad range of microorganisms, including bacteria containing both vegetative and spore. The technology is becoming more inexpensive, and substantially reduced bacterial infection has been achieved reliably reproducible.

Benefits of UV light disinfection

It is a chemical-free disinfection process and leaves no residue behind. Thus, it does not harm aquatic and terrestrial life. As no chemicals are involved, it doesn’t require the handling and transportation of harmful chemicals.

It doesn’t require a human touch, so no data error is generated. You can sanitize the area without touching it yourself. Thus, it is user friendly. This whole process of disinfection requires less time as compared to other disinfection methods that are being used.

It has less contact time, unlike other disinfectants. As per the International Ultraviolet Association, UV light has been reportedly used for approximately the last 40 years to clean air and water.

Many people also take benefit of UV light to sterilize things, by using self-cleaning UV light water flasks and UV-emitting cases, which have competence in scrubbing your muddy phone.

How does UV light destroy germs?

UV light’s high energy gets absorbed into cellular RNA and DNA of microbes, which tend to destroy or damage nucleic acids and prevent the infection and reproduction of microorganisms.

This absorption of UVC energy into cellular RNA and DNA of these organisms leads to the formation of new bonds between nucleotides, producing double bonds or “dimers.” The most prevalent type of attack incurred by UVC light in microorganisms is the dimerization of molecules, especially thymine.

Bacteria and viruses having thymine dimers in the DNA can’t reproduce, and they lose the potentiality to grow and spread.

Which UV light is germicidal

Three types of Ultraviolet light wavelengths exist UVA, UVB, and UVC. Tru-D SmartUVC generates UVC, the only established wavelength for germicidal application. UVC contains ultraviolet (shorter than UVB and UVA, NOT germicidal) short-wavelength energy that is toxic to microorganisms.

UV disinfection lies in a broad range and frequently aims to be more efficient than short-wavelength UVC. It consumes a significant amount of energy with little recorded gain in performance – even short-wavelength UVC can destroy microorganisms.

Is it safe for humans?

The UV light used for disinfection has a minimal spectrum and cannot reach the outer dead cell layer of the skin surface of humans or the tear layer in the eye, so this is not a hazard to human health.

However, as viruses and bacteria are very minute in size, this far-flung UV light can easily reach and kill their DNA. Thus, it is only harmful to microbes, not for humans.

Is UV Light a ‘Proven’ Virus Disinfectant? – Conclusion

UV light has acted as an efficient disinfectant for many years; it has been used for various purposes like purifying water, cleaning the air, and environmental surfaces. They are also widely used in health care units to get rid of any microbe infection.

Recently UV lights, UV lamps, and sanitizers are in trend, which is beneficial for various purposes and is not harmful to humans.