How does surface disinfection with a UV lamp work?

Due to the problems caused by the pandemic, a lot of research has been done regarding the safest way to eliminate bacteria and viruses. UV lamps have been found to be effective in this research. They can help in disinfecting the air and even the surface. Therefore, it is important to know everything about the UV lamp and its functioning in surface disinfection.


What are the characteristics of UV radiation?

Although UV radiation is invisible to the naked eye, it has a unique property. In fact, it is known as germicidal. This is mainly due to the fact that the UV disinfection lamp emits radiation that can alter microorganisms. The process is done by nucleic acids. This has the function of inactivating several types of microorganisms. These include bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. In addition to acting on their ability to reproduce, the UV disinfection lamp can also reduce their power of infection. Disinfection by UV radiation can have many applications. In general, it is used to disinfect surfaces. It can also be used to purify the indoor air in a facility. The goal is to protect all buildings that receive a large number of people. You can find more information on this page.


How to use UV radiation for surface disinfection?

One of the uses attributed to the UV lamp is to disinfect surfaces. Laboratory tests have already shown that UV surface disinfection is possible. In fact, disinfecting surfaces is not easy for various reasons. Compared to air, surfaces can have different forms. Some may be smooth, others porous, and others still. In this case, the choice of the product to use depends largely on the type of surface you will have to clean. In addition, you must also take into account that these surfaces are in constant contact with people. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the radiation does not pose a health hazard to the occupants. Some studies have even shown that UV radiation can be used to disinfect surfaces to fight against COVID-19.


What are the limitations of UV radiation?

The UV lamp for disinfection has its limits. The first limitation is the shadowing effect. It is possible that some parts of the surface are not exposed to UV radiation. Shadowing can be caused by dust and dirt on the surface. In this case, it is necessary to perform different types of cleaning before proceeding with UV disinfection. This can limit the actions of the UV lamp. However, a negative effect of the use of UV radiation is also related to its side effects on human health. In fact, it is known to generate ozone. This can cause undesirable impacts on the body. This can include lung irritations. But the most common case is eye injuries. These are caused by the repeated use of UV lamps. 

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