UVC Sterilization | bodyawareness

After understanding what UV-C light is, we learn they can effectively kill germs by destroying nucleic acids, which disrupts the DNA contained within them. The micro-organism dies shortly after being exposed to a UV-C light source. UV-based sanitation has been used in hospitals, medical labs, and industrial applications, such as water purification and treatment, for over 100 years.

With our increased understanding of what is UV-C light and how these rays can work for our benefit, Body Awareness is bringing the sanitizing power of UV-C rays to portable, compact appliances developed for the salon services industry. Our comprehensive system includes the award-winning UV Light Oven Pro, portable UV Light Stik, and industrial-strength UV Tabletop Room & Rolling Cart Sanitizers. These products work together or on their own to make eradicating the invisible enemy easier than ever. UV technology redefines what it means to be clean.

For more information on what UV-C light is, and how we are able to use it in our UV sanitizing products, contact us today.

How it works -

What is UV-C ?

UV-C, also known as Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI), is the germicidal wavelength released by the sun. Fortunately, almost all UV-C rays are blocked by the atmosphere and typically do not reach the earth’s surface. However, this is a good thing, as UV-C light can be harmful to many organisms if they experience periods of time with prolonged exposure. We do understand that there are certain benefits to using UV-C light in various applications. Scientists have found ways to reproduce these UV-C rays in UV light bulbs that target the invisible enemy—that army of micro-organisms, viruses, bacteria, fungus, and other germs that can be found in our workspaces and homes. By simply exposing your living or working areas to UV-C rays, you can effectively sanitize these surfaces, ridding them from the threat of exposure to harmful micro-organisms, bacteria, and pathogens.

Can UVC help prevent COVID-19 transmission by reducing contamination?

UVC disinfection is often used with other technologies in a multi-barrier approach to ensure that whatever pathogen is not “killed” by one method (say filtering or cleaning) is inactivated by another (UVC). In this way UVC could be installed now in clinical or other settings to augment existing processes or to shore up existing protocols where these are exhausted by excessive demands due to the pandemic.
UV light, specifically between 200-280 nm (UVC or the germicidal range), inactivates (aka, ‘kills’) at least two other Corona viruses that are near-relatives of the COVID-19 virus: 1) SARS-CoV-1 and 2) MERS-CoV. An important caveat is this inactivation has been demonstrated under controlled conditions in the laboratory. The effectiveness of UV light in practice depends on factors such the exposure time and the ability of the UV light to reach the viruses in water, air, and in the folds and crevices of materials and surfaces.
COVID-19 infections can be caused by contact with contaminated surfaces and then touching facial areas (less common than person-to-person, but still an issue). Minimizing this risk is key because COVID-19 virus can live on plastic and steel surfaces for up to 3 days. Normal cleaning and disinfection may leave behind some residual contamination, which UVC can treat suggesting that a multiple disinfectant approach is prudent. UVC has been shown to achieve a high level of inactivation of a near-relative of COVID-19’s virus (i.e., SARS-CoV-1, tested with adequate dose of 254nm UV while suspended in liquid). IUVA believes similar results can be expected when treating COVID-19’s virus, SARS-CoV-2. However, the key is applying UVC in such a way that it can effectively reach any remaining viruses on those surfaces.
IUVA also concurs with CDC guidance to hospitals that the germicidal effectiveness of UVC is influenced by the UVC absorbing properties of the suspension, the surface or aerosol that the organism is in; by the type or action spectra of the microorganism; and by a variety of design and operating factors that impact the delivered UV dose to the microorganism (https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/disinfection/ ).
IUVA recognizes that in the cases where the UVC light cannot reach a particular pathogen, that pathogen will not be disinfected. However in general, reducing the total number of pathogens reduces the risk of transmission. The total pathogenic load can be reduced substantially by applying UV to the many surfaces that are readily exposed, as a secondary barrier to cleaning, especially in hurried conditions. This would be a relatively straight- forward matter of illuminating the relevant surfaces with UVC light, for example the air and surfaces around/in rooms and personal protective equipment.

Based on existing evidence, we believe so. Here’s why:

UVC light has been used extensively for more than 40 years in disinfecting drinking water, waste water, air, pharmaceutical products, and surfaces against a whole suite of human pathogens.

All bacteria and viruses tested to date (many hundreds over the years, including other Corona viruses) respond to UVC disinfection. Some organisms are more susceptible to UVC disinfection than others, but all tested so far do respond at the appropriate doses.