The Technology

A certain type of ultraviolet light known as UVC has germicidal capabilities which means that it can attack the cells of microorganisms and deactivate them. When pathogens are exposed to UVC rays, the cell membrane or viral envelope is penetrated by the UVC rays, which disrupts the structure of the DNA or RNA triggering the formation of what is called pyrimidine-dimers. This prevents 99.9% viruses, bacteria, and mould spores from reproducing, breaking the chain of infection!

What Is Ultraviolet Light?

Ultraviolet light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum naturally emitted by the sun, and is split into four types based on wavelengths:

  • 400nm - 315nm UVA: Causes skin changes or tanning

  • 315nm - 280nm UVB: Causes skin burning

  • 280nm - 200nm UVC: Has germicidal characteristics

  • 200nm - 100nm VUV: Vacuum UV, does not reach Earth

A Little History…

 In 1903, Niels Finsen won the Nobel Prize for discovering that UV light could kill germs. Afterwards, the use of UV light to deactivate microorganisms became known as Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) and scientifically proven chemical-free highly efficient disinfection method started gaining popularity

However, in the 1940s and 1950s, with the emergence of antibiotics, UVGI use was limited to the water treatment and food production industries where is has been successfully used for decades.

In the 1980s, drug-resisting bacteria began to emerge, particularly tuberculosis (TB). Being an airborne infectious disease, the medical industry adopted UVGI for disinfecting the air and surfaces in hospitals to limit the spread of TB.

 Product Innovation

Germs have evolved, but our tools to fight them have not.

While UVGI has been used for a long time in several industries, its use in domestic and commercial spaces like homes, offices and schools was limited to non-existent. However, since the SARS-CoV outbreak in 2003, UV has been gaining popularity as a tool for fighting infectious diseases, outside hospitals and food production environments.

More recently, since COVID-19, the demand for introducing UVGI to our hygienic standards and cleaning regimes has surged. Lots of efforts and investments have been dedicated towards safely utilising UVGI in our day-to-day life.

Today, many innovative products are available in the market for use to disinfect the environments and spaces we occupy.