UV-emitting LED lights found to kill coronavirus

December 14, 2020

Researchers have shown that the coronavirus can be killed efficiently, quickly, and cheaply using ultraviolet (UV) light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs). They believe that the UV-LED technology will soon be available for private and commercial use.

FAQs about UV light for disinfection

December 6, 2020

Scientist Johann Wilhelm Ritter first discovered ultraviolet light in 1801. He determined that it was invisible electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths between 10-400 nm. In addition to UVA and UVB, which come to us from the sun, a third type, UVC, has the potential to disinfect spaces. Here are the most frequently asked questions.

We brewed beer from recycled wastewater – and it tasted great

November 19, 2020

As the Earth’s population grows and approaches a projected 9.7 billion by 2050, the world’s freshwaters will face mounting pressure to supply the needs of population growth. Approximately 33 per cent of people do not have access to safe drinking water and a similar number do not have access to proper sanitation — numbers that will increase as populations grow.

International Ultraviolet Association: UVC disinfection and COVID-19

November 12, 2020

In 2020, the issue of infection prevention and control – particularly in hospitals and clinical settings – has been understandably at the forefront of healthcare discourse. One technology which has received substantial attention is ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, whereby UV radiation is applied to spaces and surfaces to prevent the spread of disease.

UVC best practices for bio-exclusion on the farm

October 23, 2020

A Swine Health Information Center funded working group report on ultraviolet light, a type of electromagnetic energy invisible to humans, provides guidance on how it can be used on farms to exclude pathogens from being introduced into a herd, a process known as bio-exclusion.

Surfaces We Touch Cleaned at the Speed of Light

October 19, 2020

From trains, planes and buses to escalator handrails and elevator buttons, the air we breathe and surfaces we touch are now being cleaned at the speed of light. With science showing we're more at risk for coronavirus exposure indoors, industries are scrambling to figure out how to make customers feel safe enough to return. Ultraviolet light devices are seeing increased demand for disinfection.

Vineyard shines UV light on powdery mildew

October 12, 2020

TURNER, Ore. — For Willamette Valley Vineyards, the discovery came as a rare silver lining in the fight against COVID-19. The Oregon winery had just installed germicidal ultraviolet lights last spring to kill the coronavirus at its tasting room in Turner, south of Salem, in an effort to entice visitors back to the bucolic estate overlooking hills of Pinot noir, Pinot gris and Chardonnay vines.

UV-C LED for Water Purification

September 10, 2020

Water purification remains a prevalent issue in the world today. In many third world countries, drinking water is easily polluted and can lead to the mass infestation of various pathogenic microorganisms in vital water sources. The consequences of polluted drinking water could be catastrophic and lead to global viral pandemics.

Ultraviolet light can make indoor spaces safer during the pandemic – if it’s used the right way

September 9, 2020

Ultraviolet light has a long history as a disinfectant and the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is readily rendered harmless by UV light. The question is how best to harness UV light to fight the spread of the virus and protect human health as people work, study, and shop indoors.

TVA says this UV light will kill COVID-19, offers incentives

July 17, 2020

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) says some ultraviolet light systems can help schools and businesses cut COVID-19 transmission, and the utility has cash incentives to add these UV-C lights to HVAC systems in the TVA region that includes north Alabama.

TVA Offers Incentives for Virus-Killing UV Technology

July 8, 2020

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.­­ – The Tennessee Valley Authority announced Wednesday that is providing incentives to businesses and schools to install UV-C germicidal lights that remove viruses, like COVID-19, and bacteria from indoor air.

Nursing home CEO: Ultraviolet light, electrostatic spray to combat spread of COVID-19

July 23, 2020

Brighton-based company NexCare Health Systems/The WellBridge Group is investing in disinfecting systems to clean air, surfaces and linens in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19 in its skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities.

Shrinking Violet

July 22, 2020

While awaiting full access to their labs due to COVID-19 restrictions, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have taken this rare opportunity to report the technical details of pioneering research they conducted on the disinfection of drinking water using ultraviolet (UV) light.

How UV-C LED Light Can Help your Rental Customers

July 20, 2020

UV-C LED light is a chemical-free, low-touch technique used to decontaminate anything the UV light can reach. Now, in the world of COVID-19, it is being used to decontaminate tools, equipment, spaces, rooms, PPE, and more.

UV-C Light: It kills COVID and it’s being used in Canada

June 1, 2020

Radiation so powerful it warps the structure of a virus. As the particle gets broken apart, it is unable to replicate and essentially is killed. This is how scientists expect COVID-19 to react when exposed to UVC light.

Robots armed with UV light fight grape mildew

June 4, 2020

Robots fitted with ultraviolet light lamps that roam vineyards at night are proving effective at killing powdery mildew, a devastating pathogen for many crops, including grapes.

The food and water systems astronauts will need to travel to places like Mars

May 19, 2020

If humans are to travel to distant destinations in space like the moon or Mars, they'll need ways to live for long periods of time. And one of the key challenges of that includes how to have safe food and water to eat and drink when far from Earth.

UV Light Technology As an Emerging Tool For Food Safety

May 11, 2020

According to 2019 FoodNet Report published by the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), incidence of foodborne illnesses continues to increase. Infections from five common food borne pathogens such as Campylobacter, Cyclospora, shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), Vibrio, and Yersinia are on the rise although infectious caused by Listeria, Salmonella and Shigella remain flat.

Pittsburgh’s airport is the first in the US to use UV-cleaning robots

May 7, 2020

Pittsburgh International Airport has put UVC fixtures on its floor-cleaning robots, making it the first airport in the US to test the use of the ultraviolet rays to scrub the coronavirus from surfaces. If effective, the UV-cleaning robots could be a model for other airports as they plan to reopen and try to persuade people to travel again.

Does UV Kill the Coronavirus? Here’s What We Know

May 5, 2020

SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus causing the COVID-19 disease, can indeed be destroyed by ultraviolet light, or UV, as has been recently suggested. But it is not as simple as just going out in the sun or passing your hands under a blacklight.

Ultraviolet Light Kills Coronavirus, But Caution Required

May 4, 2020

When used appropriately, ultraviolet radiation is very effective at killing or deactivating pathogens. It can also cause harm to humans, so care must be taken when evaluating new technologies racing to market in a bid to help mitigate the new coronavirus.

Fact check: UV light injections are not a common medical treatment — or a COVID-19 cure

April 30, 2020

As President Donald Trump received pushback for floating the idea that COVID-19 patients could receive treatment using ultraviolet light or injections of disinfectants, many people on social media raced to his defense with claims about the use of UV light as a medical treatment.

RPI team develops UV-C medical mask disinfector for Mt. Sinai

April 29, 2020

Masks are carried by holders connected to a mechanical track to pass between UV-C disinfection lamps so that coronavirus is eliminated on each side of the masks.

LG's First Truly Wireless Earbuds Come With a Bacteria-Killing UV Light

January 16, 2020

Just in the last year, we’ve seen a bunch of big names announcer their first truly wireless earbuds including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and more. And now it’s LG’s turn to give it a try with its new Tone Free earbuds.

Chlorine could increase antimicrobial resistance

January 8, 2020

Conventional wastewater disinfection using chlorine could facilitate the spread of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. Treating some types of wastewater with ultraviolet (UV) light instead could be part of the solution, according to a study at KAUST's Water Desalination and Reuse Center, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.