UVGI Technology

Ultra Violet Germ Irradiation (UVGI)

Ultra Violet Germ Irradiation ( UVGI ) is an established means of disinfection and has been used to prevent the spread of viral diseases for nearly 100 years.

Low pressure mercury ( Hg) or LED UV lamps commonly used in UVGI applications emit shortwave UV-C at the wavelength of 250 – 280 nm, at 253-256 nm this wavelength interrupts DNA and RNA. UVC radiation inactivates microbes by damaging their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA).

The principal mode of inactivation occurs when the absorption of a photon forms pyrimidine dimers between adjacent thymine bases and renders the microbe incapable of replicating.

UVGI can be used to disinfect air, water and surfaces.

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Solutions for dental practices

UVGI disinfection is shown to be effective against corona viruses in air. Our UV lights neutralise 99% of all viruses within the operating range – within minutes and don’t produce any harmful ozone.

Keeping Dental Surgeries Safe and Virus Free

A simple and pragmatic answer to a complex dental problem.

UV spectrum

Ultraviolet energy is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light and longer than x-rays. The International Commission on Illumination (CIE 2003) defines the UV portion of the electromagnetic spectrum as radiation having wavelengths between 100 and 400 nm. The UV spectrum is further divided into UVA (wavelengths of 400 to 315 nm), UVB (315 to 280 nm), UVC (280 to 200 nm), and vacuum UV (VUV; 200 to 100 nm) (IESNA 2000). The optimal wavelength for inactivating microorganisms is 265 nm, and the germicidal effect decreases rapidly if the wavelength is not optimal.

UV Dose and Microbial Response

UVGI inactivates microorganisms by damaging the structure of nucleic acids and proteins at the molecular level, making them incapable of reproducing. The most important of these is DNA, which is responsible for cell replication (Harm 1980). The nucleotide bases (pyrimidine derivatives thymine and cytosine, and purine derivatives guanine and adenine) absorb most of the UV energy responsible for cell inactivation. Absorbed UV photons can damage DNA in a variety of ways, but the most significant damage event is the creation of pyrimidine dimers, where two adjacent thymine or cytosine bases bond with each other, instead of across the double helix as usual (Diffey 1991).

In general, the DNA molecule with pyrimidine dimers is unable to function properly, resulting in the organism’s inability to replicate or even its death. An organism that cannot reproduce is no longer capable of causing disease.

UVGI effectiveness depends primarily on the UV dose (DUV , μJ/cm2) delivered to the microorganisms:

DUV = It

There is no known virus or microorganism that is not irradiated by UV-C at 253.7 nm this includes CoVid-19. ( SARS-CoV-2 ).

UV-C has tested effective against SARS coronovirus, (MHV ) Murine and ( CCV) coronaviridea with doses ( DuV = It ) ranging from 4 μJ/cm2 to irradiate SARS-cov P9 to 70 μJ/cm2 for Murine.

Although not actually tested and documented on Coronovirus ( SARS-CoV-2 ) there is NO CORNOVIRUS which can withstand UV-C irradiation.

The use of ultraviolet lights to kill or inactive microorganisms – also known as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) – has been recommended by the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).

In a Sage paper from April 14, discussing evidence of environmental influence on transmission, the group said ultraviolet disinfection may be a “viable approach for controlling fine aerosol particles, particularly in rooms with poorer ventilation”.

Another paper looking at airborne transmission from April 28 said:

“UVGI disinfection is shown to be effective against corona viruses in air, and our modelling study suggests that upper-room UV installation could be equivalent to doubling the ventilation rate”.

UVGI Technology

Ultra Violet Germ Irradiation (UVGI)

Solutions for dental practices

UV spectrum

UV Dose and Microbial Response

Light in the battle against viruses and bacteria