How does UV C disable micro-organisms?
More than 100 years ago, scientists realized that some components of strong sunlight were capable of disinfecting and sterilizing items by killing micro-organisms (such as bacteria, spores, molds and viruses). One such portion of the electromagnetic spectrum was identified as being ultraviolet radiation of wavelengths between 200 nanometers (nm) and 300 nanometers. The region of ultraviolet radiation is often called UV C, short-wave UV, or germicidal UV. The DNA in most life forms is double stranded with hydrogen bonds connecting parts between the two strands. When micro-organisms are exposed to UV C radiation, the energy is absorbed in the hydrogen bonds in the DNA, causing some of the bonds to rupture and also causing portions of the DNA to fuse. This disruption of the DNA chain prevents the cell from replicating and the micro-organism ceases to grow. The DNA disruption is well known and many studies have been done to determine the amount of UV C needed to kill particular micro-organ
