Disinfecting is vital for getting rid of germs and bacteria in offices, schools, and hospitals where there is a high risk of contracting serious infections. It is important to eliminate germs that are present on the surface of floors and in the environment. After COVID 19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared monkeypox a global health emergency. As of 29th July, there have been 19,000 cases reported worldwide in 76 countries. The concerning fact that has caught the attention of health officials and experts is that more than 18000 cases have been reported in those countries where there have never been occurrences of monkeypox.

The most common disinfectants that can be used to eliminate germs are chemicals. However, today, many public settings worldwide, from health care facilities and hospitals to shopping malls and airports, are considering the implementation of UV technology devices for the disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and circulating air streams.

It almost seems too good to be true that UV technology can zap bacteria replacing harmful substances like bleach. UVGI technology and chemical disinfection products have the same motive—to eliminate 99.99% of bacteria and germs that cause disease. However, there is a slight variation in their methods.

UVGI DISINFECTION VS. CHEMICAL DISINFECTION

UVGI DISINFECTION:

UV technology has been used since the 1800s to ward off germs and other infectious diseases. In the food, hotel, and airline industries, as well as in water treatment, modern applications to kill microorganisms are already widely used. However, now with growing public health concerns over COVID-19, interest in ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) has received renewed attention. In general, ultraviolet light is a type of light that is invisible to the human eye. There are other kinds of UV radiation, but UV-C, short-wave radiation with a wavelength between 200 and 280 nm, is the one most frequently applied in sterilization and disinfection processes.

The core of any UVGI system lies a UV-C light source, which can be UV LEDs or low-pressure mercury vapor lamps. UVGI technology zaps germs when light strikes surfaces, eradicating the DNA and RNA in infectious’ cells and preventing them from reproducing. The more wattage the UV lamp has the more intensity and effect for disinfection or sterilization the lamp will have.

Chemical Disinfection:

The chemical disinfection method uses chemical agents. Air disinfectants are chemical compounds used to disinfect airborne bacteria. In 1928, a study discovered that airborne pathogens could be eradicated using mists of dilute bleach. Further research in the 1940s and early 1950s demonstrated that a variety of bacteria, the influenza virus, and the Penicillium chrysogenum (formerly P. notatum) mould fungus could all be rendered inactive by the use of various glycols, primarily propylene glycol and triethylene glycol. Although glycols are efficient air disinfectants in controlled lab settings, using them successfully in real-world settings is more challenging since air disinfection is sensitive to ongoing activity. Continuous operation in real-world settings with outside air exchanges at door, HVAC, and window interfaces, as well as in the presence of materials that absorb and remove glycols from the air, presents engineering hurdles that are not essential for surface disinfection. Chemical disinfection does not necessarily destroy all microorganisms, especially resistant bacterial spores.

WHAT MAKES UVGI TECHNOLOGY BETTER THAN CHEMICAL DISINFECTANTS

• • UVGI STRENGTH #1:

Spaces, such as the air, that are difficult to clean with liquid cleaner are disinfected by UV.

Chemical disinfectants miss spots and some surfaces are unsafe to spray or wipe with liquid chemical cleaners. Spraying and wiping down surfaces is intended to stop the spread of disease, however it is insufficient to address the problem of airborne pathogens. A solution to this problem has been the innovation of UVGI air disinfection technology. This has been a crucial technique for reducing hospital acquired infections since the middle of the 20th century. While chemical disinfectants can effectively sterilize surfaces when used as directed, UVGI air purification and disinfection systems are better suited to preventing indoor airborne transmission.