The ultraviolet light technology, featured in our commercial and residential UV air cleaners,
literally sterilizes microorganisms. UVC reduces or eliminates germs such
as molds, viruses, bacteria, fungi and mold spores from the indoor air of
homes, offices and commercial buildings, ensuring a higher indoor air quality.
UV light has been proven for decades to effectively disinfect air and water. UV air cleaners can help
your family, students or employees live, work or study in healthier environment, especially if any of
them suffer from allergy, asthma or another respiratory disease.
If you are a health conscious person and have a concern with the indoor air
quality of your home or public facility, make sure you've seen the UV light. While a good filtration system in your HVAC is necessary, most
filters capture dust, mold particles, mold spores and pollen but some viruses and bacteria are too small for them. Only the ultraviolet
air cleaners can effectively remove the microbes from the indoor air.
Germicidal UV has been included in the facility standards for the public buildings. Now the UV air
cleaners are available to homeowners also.
UV Facts - Germicidal UV Light
What is UV or ultraviolet light?
Ultraviolet light is part of the spectrum of electromagnetic energy generated by
the sun. The full spectrum includes, in order increasing energy, radio waves,
infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, gamma rays and cosmic rays. Since
UV is not visible, it is technically not "light", but use of the term
"ultraviolet light" is so widespread that, it will be used here. Most sources of
light generate some UV. For air disinfection, UV is generated by electric lamps
that resemble ordinary fluorescent lamps.
What is germicidal UV? This is UV of a
specific type (253.7nm wavelength) known to kill airborne germs that transmit
infections from person to person within buildings. Germicidal UV is aimed
at the upper room air so that only airborne microbes are directly exposed. Room
occupants are exposed only to low levels of reflected UV - levels below that
known to cause eye irritation. Germicidal UV has been used safely and
effectively in hospitals, clinics and laboratories for more than 60 years. UV
does not prevent transmission of infections (e.g. colds) by direct person to
person contact.
Is UV harmful? We are all exposed to the
UV in sunlight. UV exposure can be very harmful, or harmless, depending on the
type of UV, the type of exposure, the duration of exposure, and individual
differences in response to UV. There are three types of UV:
UV-C - Also known as "shortwave" UV,
includes germicidal (253.7nm wavelength) UV used for air disinfection.
Unintentional overexposure causes transient redness and eye irritation, but does
NOT cause skin cancer or cataracts.
UV-B - A small, but dangerous part of
sunlight. Most solar UV-B is absorbed by the diminishing atmospheric ozone
layer. Prolonged exposure is responsible for some type of skin cancer, skin
aging, and cataracts (clouding of the lens of the eye).
UV-A - Longwave UV, also known as "blacklight",
the major type of UV in sunlight, responsible for skin tanning, generally not
harmful, used in medicine to treat certain skin disorders.
Next UV Topic - Indoor Air Quality and People's Health
