When you buy an air cleaner for your home or office, you're probably looking at the specifications closely. Is it a HEPA filter? What grade of HEPA is it? Does it have a good CADR? What features does it have?
These are all good questions. A high quality air cleaner should have a high grade HEPA filter and a strong motor capable of moving a lot of air. But what about the particles that aren't captured, or are too small to be captured by a HEPA filter?
UVC (Ultraviolet-C) lights can solve that problem. 250-280 nm wavelength UVC light is germicidal, meaning they are capable of inactivating microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa. This quality makes UVC energy an effective, environmentally-friendly and chemical-free way to prevent microorganisms from replicating in any environment.
Why is UVC effective?
The high energy from short wavelength UVC light is absorbed by the cellular RNA and DNA, damaging nucleic acids and preventing microorganisms from infecting and reproducing. This absorption of UVC energy forms new bonds between nucleotides, creating double bonds or “dimers.” Dimerization of molecules, particularly thymine, is the most common type of damage incurred by UVC light in microorganisms. Formation of thymine dimers in the DNA of bacteria and viruses prevents replication and the ability to cause infection.
Does UVC Work Against COVID?
The evidence regarding the efficacy of UVC on SARS-CoV-2 is still evolving, however available research suggests that UVC germicidal radiation is effective in the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 and other microbial pathogens.
- This study reported even a “very small dose” of 254nm UV-C was enough to achieve full inactivation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- Another study has also reported that SARS-CoV-2 is highly susceptible to irradiation with ultraviolet light.
In addition, 270nm UV-C disinfecting devices have been proven effective against harder-to-kill pathogens than SARS-Cov-2, such as C.difficile and MRSA found in healthcare settings, as multiple clinical studies published in peer-reviewed journals indicate.
How does UVC work in Air Purifiers?
In order to have effect in an air purification device, UVC light must be placed somewhere in the path of air flow. Different machines use different strategies to create a germicidal effect.
Some manufacturers accomplish this with mercury UVC lamps behind the filter. The upside of UVC lamps is that they tend to be very powerful, but use a lot of energy, need to be periodically replaced, and can emit harmful ozone gas. Yet other devices use UVC LEDs which, while not as powerful, never need to be replaced and do not emit any harmful gases.
Does UVC create ozone?
A UVC light CAN indeed create harmful ozone, which is something to consider. UVC products that carry the EnergyStar certification have been tested to ensure they do not produce ozone.
Does it matter if my air purifier has UVC?
UVC germicidal lights add an extra layer of air quality protection above and beyond what HEPA filters offer alone. Air purifiers that offer strong UVC often cost a bit of extra money over similar models, but are generally worth the extra cost in the long run. It is definitely something to consider when selecting an air purifier for your home.
