How It Works:
What is germicidal ultraviolet?
Ultraviolet light is invisible to the human eye. It is part of the electromagnetic spectrum that lies beyond the purple range of the visible spectrum. The ultraviolet
(or UV) spectrum has wavelengths between 100 and 400 nanometers (nm). The UV spectrum is further divided into wavelength ranges named UVA, UVB, UVC:
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UVA: sun tanning, testing, inspection, insect traps, stage effects, blacklight, phototherapy* (315-400nm)
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UVB: sun burning, inspection, analysis, testing, phototherapy* (280-360nm)
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UVC: germicidal (253.7nm), ozone producing (185nm)
UV-C light is germicidal - i.e., it deactivates the DNA of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens and destroys their ability to multiply and cause disease. Specifically,
UV-C light causes damage to the nucleic acid of microorganisms by forming covalent bonds between certain adjacent bases in the DNA. The formation of such bonds
prevent the DNA from being unzipped for replication, and the organism is unable to reproduce. In fact, when the organism tries to replicate, it dies.
Learn more about UV by visiting the FAQs section.