Ultraviolet (UV) light means “beyond violet,” as violet is the highest frequency of light visible to the human eye. The electromagnetic spectrum of light that the human eye can detect is in the range of 380 to 700 nanometers (nm). UV lighting has a shorter wavelength and a higher frequency than visible violet light.
UV light was first discovered by German physicist Johann Ritter in 1801 when he discovered that invisible light rays darkened paper soaked in silver chloride faster than visible light.
Ultraviolet UV lighting can be categorized into three different areas known as:
UVA – this is the longest wavelength of UV light and is emitted between 320 to 400 nm. UVA is the least carcinogenic wavelength but still contributes to sunburns and skin cancer.
UVB – light emitted in the wavelength range of 280 to 320 nm is considered UVB. It is more carcinogenic than UVA, however, only about 5% of this light reaches the earth’s surface.
UVC – this is the shortest wavelength of UV light in the range of 100 to 280 nm. UVC light, when emitted from the sun, is the shortest wavelength of light and is completely absorbed by the ozone layer, thus never reaching the earth. UVC lights are designed to emit UVC radiation, mostly for germicidal applications.
Each category of UV lighting has very useful purposes for many industries and applications. UVA and UVB light are common in many medical phototherapy lamps. UVC light has been known for over a century to possess highly effective sterilization and disinfection properties, particularly at 254 nm.
Far UVC lamps are becoming more popular as they are designed to emit wavelengths close to 222nm, which is found to provide the similar germicidal efficacy to 254 nm lamps while being safe to use in occupied spaces.
UV lamps designed to emit UVC radiation in the range of 254 nm are used in many germicidal applications, such as UV air purification systems, UV water disinfection, and UV sterilization of surfaces.
UVC lamps have been used for decades to disinfect and remove harmful contaminants from the air, including dust mites, mold spores, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other harmful airborne microorganisms. UV C air sterilization has a long history of improving indoor air quality and preventing various airborne diseases, as reported by the National Library of Medicine, The History of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation for Air Disinfection.
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is used in air purification systems such as Upper Room UVGI and HVAC systems.
Upper room UVGI systems are designed to disinfect air above occupied spaces in wall or ceiling-mounted UVGI fixtures. UVC lamps in HVAC systems also disinfect air as it passes through furnaces and AC units to remove harmful airborne contaminants and protect equipment against the buildup of mold and fungi.
UVC lamps provide a highly effective, cost-efficient, and safe alternative to chemical water treatment. UVC lamps are found in many water disinfection systems, such as wastewater treatment for drinking water and industrial water, life sciences and aquaculture, pool and spa applications, and other water treatment applications.
UVC germicidal lamps are also used in many surface sterilization applications to prevent the presence or buildup of harmful microorganisms on surfaces. UV surface sterilization lamps are used in hospitals and medical applications, restaurants, commercial kitchens, and residential products.
LightSources is an industry-leading global supplier of UV lighting solutions and UV germicidal lamps used in these processes and other germicidal applications.
The history of UV light providing therapeutic effects dates back to the early 1900s, with UVA and UVB lamps providing effective treatment to a variety of skin conditions. Specific medical phototherapy lamps must be used for effective treatment and should be prescribed by a physician and used under a doctor’s care.
Ultraviolet lamps designed for tanning beds typically emit UVA radiation, sometimes with a small percentage of UVB. Tanning lamp manufacturers like LightSources offer various innovative lamp designs and proprietary solutions.
UV lamps are used in a variety of industrial processes that require curing various coatings, varnishes, lacquers, adhesives, and inks. UV curing provides many benefits to manufacturers with faster curing than air-dried processes and a higher level of quality. UV curing is used in many applications, such as automotive, electrical, optical, and other industrial applications. LightSources offers various UV curing lamps, including medium pressure, high pressure, and amalgam curing lamps.
LightSources employs industry-leading, high-tech UV lighting engineers with deep technical knowledge of UV lamp design and engineering. We offer a wide range of UV lamp solutions with custom design, development, and manufacturing, including prototype and proprietary lamp solutions. Contact us to learn more about our many lamp solutions and to improve your application with the leading experts in UV lighting.
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Here at CureUV, light is everything to us! Last year we celebrated 140 years (1877-2017) since the discovery of the use of UV light to kill illness causing bacteria. And since we just can’t seem to get enough of sharing the light, were celebrating the start of hopefully another decade of amazing UV innovation with some pretty amazing deals, like the one below!
When most people think UV light, they think tanning beds, glow sticks and crime scene investigations but in truth those UV light uses are really just the beginning of the amazing and powerful things that UV light can really do. A look back at the history of the discovery and use of UV light will say it all.[i] In truth the use of UV-C light technology is backed by a history of scientific innovation and discovery!
The Seen and Unseen
In the 17th Century Isaac Newton discovered prisms of light. By refracting light through glass prisms he discovered the visible range of light, from red to violet, the colors of the rainbow![ii] By the 1800’s Freidrich Williams Herscel, a German Astronomer, noticed that the temperature of light increased from the violet spectrum to the red spectrum. He decided to test the temperature of the invisible light on either side of that spectrum and found that just beyond the red end of the spectrum, the light, the invisible light had a higher temperature. And so just like that Ultra-violet light was born!
Want to check out more about the seen and unseen ability of UV light? Then check out our useful and handy UV flashlights – one scan with any of these and you’ll be able to detect all the unseen germs that surround you more easily so that you can target and eliminate them.
Kill or be Killed – the death of ill causing bacteria
In 1877, two English scientists, Downes and Blunt, accidentally discovered that when they placed sugar water in the sun no bacteria grew but when they placed it in the shade bacteria grew. This was “one of the most influential discoveries in photobiology” and was the beginning of the use of UV light for germicidal application. Between 1885–1890, one scientist, Koch, noticed that different types of bacteria had different levels of sensitivity to light exposure and eventually he showed that when exposed to the light the bacteria that caused TB was lethally destroyed. But it was only in 1892, that Marshall Ward figured out that, it was really only the invisible ultraviolet range of light that killed the TB bacteria.
Riding the UV-C wave
With competitive price and timely delivery, UVDF sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.
In 1904 the relative intensity of radiation was quantified as a function of wavelength. The size of waves in the UV radiation spectrum are measured in nanometres. A nanometre is 1 billionth of a metre! Really, that’s more than just miniscule! So the spectrum of UV radiation is between 100nm and 400nm in length, the smallest of wavelengths there is. Just a year later, in 1905 the most effective wavelengths was found to be UV-C with a peak germicidal effectiveness between 226.5nm and 328.7nm followed by UV-B, UV-A and then visible light. And so UV-C emerged as the most effective radiation.
So powerful is this radiation that we’ve been able to harness it and create nifty useful devices like this handheld sanitizer, that you can easily transport and use just about anywhere!
Turn the lights on
In 1906, two German scientist Kuch and Retschinsky managed to improve upon the standard glass lamps at the time and get more light output from a quartz glass tube. And so began the important and necessary aspect of lamp development so that we could eventually turn UV lights on with the most effective and efficient power.
Here at CureUV, this innovation in bulb development has allowed us to become the leading experts on UV bulbs. We've got just about any replacement bulb that you might need for any use.
One by one….
From the late 1920’s scientists began to catalogue the range of bacteria which were killed by UV light – bacteria that causes Staph infections, and E.coli illnesses were found to be killed by UV light at a wavelength of UV light 265nm. In 1935 Wells pioneered the use of UV against airborne infections. Wells tested UV light on aerosolized bacteria successfully and efficiently killing it. One by one scientists began to discover which microbes were most vulnerable.
Medical Use expansions – Measles and TB
The late 1930’s and early 40’s saw the expansion of medical use experimentation and application. In 1936 UV light was applied to disinfect hospital operating room air at Duke University Hospital. And in 1937 Wells continued his experiments, this time attempting to use UV to treat measles among children in Philadelphia with relative success. By 1943 UV was officially accepted as a method of disinfection by the Council on Physical Therapy and studies on the impact and effect of UV continued. From Late 1950’s to 1960 a medical student tested UV in hospital TB wards, well elsewhere another medic used UV to prevent the spread of influenza among TB patients. The results and effects of these studies were ground breaking!
A case in point is our powerful Ultimate Room UVC Surface sanitizer, which is particularly suitable for use in medical rooms, clinics, dentists and hospitals, but also suitable to use in homes and offices.
How about some water?[iii]
By 1955 advances with UV technology in Switzerland and Austria resulted in the first reliable applications of UV light for disinfecting drinking water installed in water treatment plants. This tech has now advanced so that you can have UV treatments in your homes and on the go.
To see just how this could work for you, have a look at this neat handheld water purifier, compact and powerful!
A momentary decline
During the late 60’s and 70’s, following the initial break-through in medical use, the enthusiasm for UV light sources as an effective barrier against illness saw a decline. This was due to some failures in testing and experimentation, and also in the rise in use of antibiotics to treat infections. There were also concerns about the health effects of UV exposure and the environmental impact of ozone production.
A resurgence
But then in the late 1980’s, upon the unexpected resurgence of TB, there was renewed interest in the use of UV and as a result there was renewed interest to address the challenges that brought on the initial decline. Studies relating to the use of UV in various environments, the safety of UV use, the maintenance of UV fixtures and ozone lamps were conducted.
Unlocking the potential!
From the 1990’s onward the commercial, industrial and domestic use of UV fixtures has grown exponentially – from air sanitization, surface sanitation& water purification. Recognized bodies have since issued use guidelines. For example, in 2005 The CDC published a preliminary guideline regarding UV use.
UV light has even transformed the world of industrial and chemical curing!
Next time we’ll tell you a little more about the use of UV as a curing technique.
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[i] Nicholas G Reed (2010) ‘The History of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation for Air Disinfection’ Viewpoint available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2789813/
[ii] See Institute for Dynamic Educational Advancement, Color Vision & Art, 2006 available at http://www.webexhibits.org/colorart/bh.html
[iii] See https://www.awwa.org/portals/0/files/publications/documents/samples/ultravioletdisinfectionhandbook.pdf
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