When search for the product to sterilize /to kill /to disinfect/to inactive viruses or bacteria or germs, buyers can always find words like” UV” “Ultraviolet” “UV light” “UV lamp””UV light sanitizer'”UV sterilizer light””UVA, UVB,UVC”.

When we talking about UV, first impression is always not safe, is it true? UV is existing in the sunlight, if it’s not safe, why people are safe when exposing in sunlight? if it’s safe, why people read news of sunlight injuring human skin?

What on earth is UV? What does ultraviolet mean? Is Ultraviolet light dangerous? Does UV sanitizer really work? Does Ultraviolet kill viruses? What Exactly is UV ray? What does a UV sterilizer do? How to choose UV products? Does UV really work? Can I use UV at home? What is the proper way to use UV products? What is the best UV sterilizers for car? What is the best UV sterilizer for car disinfection? What is a portable UV sterilizer? UV light sterilization time and distance? UV car sterilizer /UV LED sterilizer?

Let’s see the UV Ultimate guide. (Most useful UV buying guide in 2021.)

1.What is UV & Ultraviolet?

UV is abbr of Ultraviolet. It is from Sunlight. UV is a form of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths from 10 (with a corresponding frequency around 30 PHz) to 400 nm (750 THz), shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays.

It subdivided into UVA, UVB, UVC.

  • UVA, Ultraviolet A, wavelength is 315-400nm, Long-wave, not absorbed by ozone layer.
  • UVB, Ultraviolet B, wavelength is 280-315nm, medium-wave, mostly absorbed by the ozone layer.
  • UVC, Ultraviolet C, wavelength is 100-280nm, short-wave, germicidal, completely absorbed by the ozone layer and atmosphere.

UVA has the longest wavelengths. UVA and UVB rays are transmitted through atmosphere, all UVC and some UVB are absorbed by the Earth’s ozone layers. So most of the UV rays people come in contact with are UVA and a small amount of UVB. UVC in human life is only from an artificial source.

2.Is all ultraviolet consided germicidal ultraviolet?

No. Short-wavelength ultraviolet” light”(radiant energy) has been shown to kill bacteria and spores and to inactive viruses. UVC or UV-C, from 200-280 nanometers (nm) has been shown to be the most effective for disinfection.

3.Can UVC inactive viruses and bacteria?

Yes. UVC kills living bacteria, and Inactive viruses (viruses are technically not living organisms, so correctly saying inactive viruses.) UVC interacts RNA and DNA in a virus or bacterium to render these microbes non-infectious. Viruses are less than 1 µm, bacteria are typically 0.5-5 µm(µm, one-millionth of a meter)

4.Can UVC effectively inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19?

Yes, if the virus is directly illuminated by UVC at an effective dose level. UVC can play an effective role.

5.Are all UVC lamps produce UVC radiation the same?

No, not all UVC lamps are the same. The wavelengths emitted by the lamp may affect the lamp’s effectiveness at inactivating a virus and may impact the health and safety risks associated with the lamp. Some lamps emit multiple types of wavelengths.

There is some evidence that excimer lamps, with peak wavelength of 222-nm may cause less damage to the skin, eyes, and DNA

6.Is ultraviolet light dangerous? /Is ultraviolet (UV) light safe?/Is ultraviolet harmful or helpful?

It is both dangerous and safe. It is both harmful and helpful.
There are three types of UV radiation- UVA, UVB, UVC. UVB rays have short wavelengths, reaches the outer layer of your skin(the epidermis). UVA rays have a longer wavelength, that can penetrate middle layer of skin(the dermis). UVC radiation is the highest energy portion of the UV radiation spectrum, which Human exposed to is all artificial.

The risk

What are the risks of exposure to UVC radiation?

Direct skin exposure to UVC radiation and Direct looking into UVC light can cause burns of skin and eye injuries(photokeratitis).
What are the risks associated with using some UVC lamps?

  • Some UVC lamps emit small amounts of UVB radiation. Therefore, exposure to a HIGH dose or Prolonged low dose of radiation from some UVC lamps is not safe.
  • Some UVC lamps generate ozone. Ozone could cause irritation to breathing passages (that is nose, throat, and lungs), particularly for those who have respiratory sensitivity such as asthma or allergies. Exposure to high levels of ozone gas may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma, or increase vulnerability or respiratory infection.
  • Sources of UV radiation you may encounter
  • Sunlight
  • Tanning booths
  • Mercury vapor lighting(often found in stadiums and school gyms)
  • Some halogen, fluorescent, and incandescent lights
  • some types of lasers

The health benefits

What effect does UV radiation have on human body

  • Exposure to UVB radiation helps the skin produce a type of vitamin D
  • UV is being used in many countries to control airborne transmission of tuberculosis.
  • Some U.S. healthcare facilities are now using autonomous mobile units to add enhanced hygiene to patient rooms in order to reduce hospital-acquired infections.

7.How do Ultraviolet-C Radiation inactive/disinfect viruses and bacteria(coronavirus, SARS-COV-2 Coronavirus)

UVC radiation is a known disinfectant for air, water, nonporous surface. UVC radiation has effectively been used for decades to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses.
To understand how UVC radiation is effective at inactivating virus, there are 2 limitations
Direct exposure: UVC radiation can inactivate a virus if virus is directly exposed to radiation.
Dose and duration: Many UVC products sold on the market use are of low dose, and longer exposure to a given surface area to provide effective disinfect of bacteria and virus.
UVC radiation is commonly used inside air duct to disinfect air. It will avoid human skin or eyes direct exposure to UVC. This the safest way to employ UVC radiation. (That’s the reason UVC lamps are not safe, especially for kids family)

8. Can UVB or UVA radiation inactive viruses and bacteria?

UVB and UVA radiation is less effective than UVC radiation at inactivating viruses.
UVB is less effective than UVC radiation. UVB can penetrate deeper into skin and eye.
UVA radiation is (1000times)less effective than either UVB or UVC radiation at inactivating viruses.
UVC is effective at inactivating viruses and bacteria.

9. Newfound of UVC

222nm UVC light does not cause human health issues, cause it cannot reach living human cells in the skin or eyes.

10. Is ultraviolet (UV) rays visibility?

Ultraviolet rays are invisible to most humans. The lens of human eye blocks most radiation in the wavelength (300-400nm), shorter wavelengths are blocked by the cornea.

11. How does UVC work to disinfect air?

The peak germicidal wavelengths of 265 to 275nm -both in the UV-C range. UVC radian energy damages nucleic acid(DNA and RNA) by causing mutations than prevent replication, thus leading to the death of virtually all bacteria and inactivation of all vruses-both DNA and RNA types.

12. Are all UVC lamps produce UVC radiation the same?

No, not all UVC lamps are the same. The wavelengths emitted by the lamp may affect the lamp’s effectiveness at inactivating a virus and may impact the health and safety risks associated with the lamp. Some lamps emit multiple types of wavelengths.
There is some evidence that excimer lamps, with peak wavelength of 222-nm, may cause less damage to the skin, eyes, and DNA

13. Advantages and disadvantage of UV LEDs (265-280nm)

Advantages

  • Suitable to all climates
  • Small sources, lending to compact
  • Can be controlled by occupancy sensors
  • Low power requirements
  • Achieves high levels of equivalent air changes/hour
  • Disinfects space air when combined with forms of mechanical ventilation, natural ventilation, or hybrid types to mix the air; have a secondary benefit for surface decontamination.

Disadvantages

  • Expensive
  • Output for large-scale disinfection is limited
  • Possible material degradation
  • Not widely available on a global basis
  • Requires expertise to design, commission, install, operate, and maintain.

14.Can UVB/UV-B/Ultraviolet B lamps used for germicidal?

UVB is less effective than UVC radiation. But in accidental exposures will cause a higher risk for severe sunburn and injure skin and eyes, because UV-B penetrates the skin more deeply.

15.Can UVA/UV-A/Ultraviolet A lamps, such as UV insect traps be used for germicidal?

No. UV-A and longer(visible) wavelengths do not have germicidal effective emission wavelengths to inactivate viruses. The relative disinfection capability is very minimal (1000times less effective than UVC)

16.What are the different types of lamps that can produce UVC radiation?

Low-pressure mercury lamp: most common type of lamp used to produce UVC radiation, which has its main emission at 254nm. There are other lamps available that emit a broad range of UV wavelengths, but also emit visible and infrared radiation.
Excimer lamp or Far-UVC lamp: Type of lamp, called an “excimer lamp”, with a peak emission of around 222 nm.
Pulsed xenon lamps: These lamps, which emit a short pulse of broad-spectrum (including UV, visible and infrared) light have been filtered to emit mainly UVC radiation and are sometimes employed in hospital settings to treat environmental surfaces in operating rooms or other spaces. These are normally employed when no humans are occupying the space.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs): Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that produce UV radiation are also becoming more commonly available. Typically, LEDs emit a very narrow wavelength band of radiation. Currently available UV LEDs have peak wavelengths at 214 nm, 265 nm, and 273 nm, among others. One advantage of LEDs over low-pressure mercury lamps is that they contain no mercury. However, the small surface area and higher directionality of LEDs may make them less effective for germicidal applications.

17.Has UVC been useful in medical treatment facilities?

Yes. Some hospitals have used  UV fixtures to disinfect air and surfaces in unoccupied, locked rooms as supplemental control measures to reduce spread of healthcare-associated infections.
Medical treatment facilities are also widely used

  • upper-room UV fixtures with air mixing , for controlling airborne pathogens in an occupied space
  • mobile UVC units, to disinfect high-touch surfaces
  • UV in HVAC air handling units, to treat recirculated air and to reduce mold growth coiling coils. Autonomous systems have been used in some U.S. hospitals, China, Japan in response to COVID-19.

18.Are UVC lamps safe? (Note: UVC lamps and UVC LEDs are different)

UVC lamp emissions can pose a workplace safety and health hazard to the eyes and skin if the lamps are improperly used or installed. Some UVC lamps will release O-zone, mercury.

19.  What is AirWhisper?

AirWhisper has three series products for 3 different closing places: Car, Home, Public, used to disinfect bacteria and viruses, and guard space air safety.

  • AirWhisper car, focus on in-car air sterilizer, portable USB type, effective space is 3~8m³.
  • AirWhisper home, install inside split air conditioners, the sterilization is working when A/C working.
  • AirWhisper for public, focus on HVAC and Cassette air conditioners, the sterilization is working when the HVAC and Cassette A/C working.

20. How does AirWhisper work?

AirWhisper belongs to LEDs UV air sterilizer product. It uses UV radiation to kill and disinfect viruses and bacteria.

AirWhisper contains 2pcs UVC chips and 2pcs UVA chips, and photocatalyst. UVA+photocatalyst is to turn viruses and bacteria into H2O and CO2, and UVC is to break DNA or RNA of viruses and Bacteria, and inactive them, and disinfect them and kill them.

21.AirWhisper is safe?

Yes. Take car AirWhisper for example. Some customers worry airwhisper working status lights hurts, it won’t.

From before section, we know UV is invisible lights. The 3-color lights are LED lights, function is to show working status. The UV chips is in the backside, and towards AirWhisper bottom. When AirWhsper working, air inlet from bottom, and disinfection finish inside AirWhisper, and safety air outlet from topside gap.(see bottom image)

22. Where Can I buy AirWhisper?

AirWhisper is made in China. Kindly email us at autoparts@getturbos.com or call us at 86-15026860139(whatsapp) to get buying guide.