Q: What is UVC Radiation?

A: UVC radiation is the highest energy portion of the UV radiation spectrum.

UVC radiation from the sun does not reach the earth’s surface because it is blocked by the ozone layer in the atmosphere. Thus, the only way that humans can be exposed to UVC radiation is from an artificial source like a lamp or laser.

Q: What are the risks of exposure to UVC radiation?

A: UVC radiation can cause severe burns of the skin and eye injuries (photokeratitis). Avoid direct skin exposure to UVC radiation and never look directly into a UVC light source, even briefly. Skin burns and eye injuries from UVC exposure usually resolve within a week with no known long-term damage. Since the penetration depth of UVC radiation is very low, the risk of skin cancer, cataracts or permanent vision loss is also thought to be very low. The type of eye injury associated with exposure to UVC causes severe pain and a feeling of having sand in the eyes.  Sometimes people are unable to use their eyes for one to two days. It can occur after a very short exposure (seconds to minutes) to UVC radiation.

Q: What are the risks associated with using some UVC lamps?

A: We pride ourselves in using only the best UV Germicidal lamps and all our products are certified ensuring the highest level of saftey when using them.

However, some UVC lamps emit small amounts of UVB radiation. Therefore, exposure to a high dose or prolonged low dose of radiation from some UVC lamps can potentially contribute to effects like cataracts or skin cancer that are caused by cumulative exposure to UVB radiation.

Additionally, some UVC lamps generate ozone which could cause irritation to breathing passages (that is nose, throat, and lungs), particularly for those who have respiratory sensitivity such as asthma or allergies. Exposure to high levels of ozone gas may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma, or increase vulnerability to respiratory infection.

Q: Can UVC lamps inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

A: UVC radiation is a known disinfectant for air, water, and nonporous surfaces. UVC radiation has effectively been used for decades to reduce the spread of bacteria, such as tuberculosis. For this reason, UVC lamps are often called "germicidal" lamps.

UVC radiation has been shown to destroy the outer protein coating of the SARS-Coronavirus, which is a different virus from the current SARS-CoV-2 virus. The destruction ultimately leads to inactivation of the virus. UVC radiation may also be effective in inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the virus that causes the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In addition to understanding whether UVC radiation is effective at inactivating a particular virus, there are also limitations to how effective UVC radiation can be at inactivating viruses, generally.

Direct exposure: UVC radiation can only inactivate a virus if the virus is directly exposed to the radiation. Therefore, the inactivation of viruses on surfaces may not be effective due to blocking of the UV radiation by soil, such as dust, or other contaminants.

Dose and duration: Many of the UVC lamps sold for home use are of low dose, so it may take longer exposure to a given surface area to potentially provide effective inactivation of a bacteria or virus.

UVC radiation is commonly used inside air ducts like planes to disinfect the air, in hospitals to kill deadly pathogens, in hotels and restaurants to kill bacterias, the list goes on.

Q: Can UVB or UVA radiation inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus?

A: UVB and UVA radiation is expected to be less effective than UVC radiation at inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

UVB: There is some evidence that UVB radiation is effective at inactivating other SARS viruses (not SARS-CoV-2). However, it is less effective than UVC at doing so and is more hazardous to humans than UVC radiation because UVB radiation can penetrate deeper into the skin and eye. UVB is known to cause DNA damage and is a risk factor in developing skin cancer and cataracts.

UVA: UVA radiation is less hazardous than UVB radiation but is also significantly (approximately 1000 times) less effective than either UVB or UVC radiation at inactivating other SARS viruses. UVA is also implicated in skin aging and risk of skin cancer.

Q: Are all lamps that produce UVC radiation the same?

Not all UVC lamps are the same. Lamps may emit very specific UVC wavelengths (like 254 nm or 222 nm), or they may emit a broad range of UV wavelengths. Some lamps also emit visible and infrared radiation. The wavelengths emitted by the lamp may affect the lamp’s effectiveness at inactivating a virus and may impact the health and safety risks associated with the lamp. Some lamps emit multiple types of wavelengths. Testing of the lamp can determine whether, and how much, other wavelengths the lamp puts out.

There is some evidence that excimer lamps, with peak wavelength of 222-nm may cause less damage to the skin, eyes, and DNA than the 254 nm wavelength, but long-term safety data is lacking.

Q: What is the FDA’s role in the oversight of UVC lamps?

A: UVC lamps are electronic products. The FDA regulates electronic products that emit radiation (both non-medical and medical products) through the Electronic Product Radiation Control Provisions, which were originally enacted as the Radiation Control for Health and Safety Act. Certain electronic products may also be regulated as medical devices. The FDA is responsible for regulating firms who manufacture, repackage, relabel, and/or import medical devices sold in the United States.

UVC lamp manufacturers are responsible for compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements, including Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts 1000 through 1004, and section 1005.25 and, as applicable, 21 CFR Chapter I, Subchapter H. The radiological health regulations include reporting of Accidental Radiation Occurrences, notification to the FDA and customers of radiation safety defects, and designation of a U.S. agent for imported lamps. When a UVC lamp is regulated only as an electronic product, there are currently no specific FDA performance standards that apply.

Ultraviolet lamps intended for medical purposes, such as products that disinfect other medical devices or irradiate part of the human body, that meet the definition of medical device under section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act also typically require FDA clearance, approval, or authorization prior to marketing.

UVC radiation can cause severe burns (of the skin) and eye injuries (photokeratitis). Avoid direct skin exposure to UVC radiation and never look directly into a UVC light source, even briefly.

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