| A whole range of manufacturers now produce | | | | the organism, the energy contained breaking |
| air purifiers that use ultra violet (UV) | | | | apart and misplacing the nucleotide bonds, as |
| light. These air purifiers target the many | | | | such lowering the chances of the organism's |
| tiny microorganisms/ potential pathogens | | | | self repair or reproduction. Very small |
| floating about in our household air, e.g. | | | | organisms like these have short lifespans and |
| bacteria, spores and viruses. | | | | so purification results occur fast. |
| | | | |
| A range of ailments can be attributed to | | | | Two particular UV wavelengths have proved |
| these organisms such as respiratory | | | | best at being absorbed by air bound |
| allergies, sore throats, tuberculosis, | | | | microorganisms, and therefore killing them, |
| legionnaire's disease and frequent common | | | | 185nm and 265nm. Hence all good UV air |
| colds and the flu. | | | | purifiers need to utilize wavelengths similar |
| | | | to these. |
| Those people who are at most risk from such | | | | |
| airborne pollutants are the very young and | | | | To ensure that your UV air purifier works to |
| the old, consequently it is these age groups | | | | its maximum pathogen killing capacity the |
| that tend to benefit most from UV air | | | | date when a new bulb is introduced needs to |
| purifiers. | | | | be recorded. UVC does eventually stop being |
| | | | emitted, whilst the bulb its self continues |
| UV light has an even shorter wavelength than | | | | for some time further and so can appear to |
| pure violet light, being just off the visible | | | | still be functioning to the first-time user. |
| spectrum UV it thus invisible to humans. | | | | The best place to record the date is |
| | | | typically using permanent marker on the |
| Three categories of UV exist: | | | | underside of the purifier. Based on the |
| | | | manufacturer's recommendations you are then |
| 380-315nm, known as UVA this was used in | | | | able to calculate the life of the bulbs and |
| so-called 'backlights' during the 1970's | | | | so know when replacements are required. |
| | | | |
| 315-280nm, this is termed UVBless than 280nm, | | | | Air filtering systems should always be |
| this is called UVC and happens to be most | | | | employed ahead of the UV lamps in the |
| effective at killing microorganisms | | | | purifier to stop particles in the air (e.g. |
| | | | dust and pollen) landing on the lamps and |
| All three levels of UV have the capacity to | | | | shielding the emitted rays. The majority of |
| damage people's eyes and promote skin cancer. | | | | UV air purification therefore works in tandem |
| UV has been seen to be very effective at | | | | with HEPA and/ or activated carbon to begin |
| killing microorganisms. This is achieved by | | | | with, UV being the final purification stage. |
| the UV wavelength in use damaging the DNA of | | | | |