UV-C Technology for Clean and Allergy-Free Environments

People with asthma and allergies know one of the best ways to fight the symptoms of sneezing, coughing, runny nose, and watery eyes is to keep their living and working environments clean.  Thanks to new technologies, they can add another weapon to their arsenal in that ongoing battle.

You are probably familiar with UV-A and UV-B, which are linked to tanning and skin cancer, but UV-C is probably a new term for many. The C in UV-C stands for the specific frequency of ultraviolet light that kills germs. The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized UV-C as an alternative to chemical disinfecting methods.

Ultraviolet light has been around as long as the sun has been shining,  and doctors and scientists have been using UV-C for over one hundred years as a germicide, but it is only in the last decade or so that portable UV-C devices have been available for personal use.

UV-C light inactivates organisms by penetrating thin-walled germs, altering their genetic structure, and killing them.  It is effective on germs, bacteria, mold, and viruses, including rhinovirus, salmonella, and E-coli.

Although personal UV-C products are relatively new, UV-C light has been used for decades. Nobel Prize winner Niels Finsen invented the Finsen curative lamp, which uses UV-C light to treat disease, in 1903.  The technology has also been popular for treating municipal water supplies and for air sterilization in hospitals.

The use of UV-C light fell out of favor in the 1960s, with chemical cleaners taking their place, but rising concerns over chemical use has led people to reconsider UV-C as a germicidal method for pools, water tanks, sealed rooms, and even heating/ventilation systems.

As with many UV products, the effectiveness of UV-C light depends on the wavelength, dosage, and exposure.  UV-C products work best at 240 to 280 nanometers.  The higher the intensity of light, the shorter the duration of treatment you’ll need to expose items to.

Hand held UV-C sanitizing wands from Allergy Asthma Technology come in a variety of sizes for sanitizing small spaces, hard and soft surfaces, water supplies, and entire rooms.  These UV-C wands are simple to use and guaranteed to eliminate 99.9 percent of viruses that cause colds and flu, bacteria and mold, dust mites, E-coli, MRSA, and H1N1.  They also provide protection against bed bugs, which are a rising concern, especially in urban areas.

With reports of outbreaks and infestations throughout the United States and around the world, having a portable UV-C sanitizing wand can provide great peace of mind when traveling and at home, making them a smart investment for anyone concerned with their family’s health and well-being.