What is Ultraviolet (UV) and Ultraviolet Germicidal (UVC) Light?
Ultraviolet light represents a portion of the sun’s electromagnetic spectrum. It is the wavelength band immediately beyond the violet end of visible light. All bands of UV light are present throughout the environment – it comes from the sun, light fixtures, electrical devices, etc. The UV range of the spectrum is characterized by wavelengths between 100 and 400 nanometers (nm). It includes the long-wave UV-A (315 to 400 NM), which causes suntan/sunburn, medium-wave UV-B, (280 to 315 NM) used to treat skin conditions, and short-wave UV-C (200 to 280 NM). Because the upper atmospheric ozone screens out most of the sun s UV-C, only A and B band UV gets to the Earth. The most effective sterilizing range for UV is within the C bandwidth (UVC). Short-wave ultraviolet radiation, in the “C” band of 200 to 280 nanometers, has been used in a wide range of germicidal applications for over 100 years to destroy bacteria, mold, yeast, and viruses. UVC penetrates the structure of the cell wall and al
