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Ultra-violet Irradiation as a Means of Disinfection of Air

Ultra-violet Irradiation as a Means of Disinfection of Air THE bactericidal power of ultraviolet radiation has been known for many years. Careful studies on the wavelength dependence of this action of ultra-violet radiation established that the region of the spectrum in which waves are shorter than 3,OOOA is quite efficient in the killing of micro6rganisms, and that bacteria and fungi show their highest sensitivity around 2,600A. Preliminary studies on the effect of wavelength 2,537A on certain animal viruses indicate that these viruses in a purified state have a sensitivity similar to bacteria at wavelength 2,537A. The development of low pressure mercury vapor lamps with glass or quartz envelopes which emit about 80 per cent of their radiation at wavelength 2,537A, very close to the maximum of highest bacterial sensitivity, has made available a ready and inexpensive means to be used for many practical purposes. This development coincided with the reawakening of interest in the control of air-borne contagion which was brought to the foreground in this country by W. F. Wells. Although low pressure mercury vapor lamps have been used extensively in connection with air-borne microorganisms, it is only in the last three years that quantitative laboratory investiga*Presented before the Laboratory Section of the American Public Health http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Public Health American Public Health Association

Ultra-violet Irradiation as a Means of Disinfection of Air

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Publisher
American Public Health Association
Copyright
Copyright © by the American Public Health Association
ISSN
0090-0036
eISSN
1541-0048
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

THE bactericidal power of ultraviolet radiation has been known for many years. Careful studies on the wavelength dependence of this action of ultra-violet radiation established that the region of the spectrum in which waves are shorter than 3,OOOA is quite efficient in the killing of micro6rganisms, and that bacteria and fungi show their highest sensitivity around 2,600A. Preliminary studies on the effect of wavelength 2,537A on certain animal viruses indicate that these viruses in a purified state have a sensitivity similar to bacteria at wavelength 2,537A. The development of low pressure mercury vapor lamps with glass or quartz envelopes which emit about 80 per cent of their radiation at wavelength 2,537A, very close to the maximum of highest bacterial sensitivity, has made available a ready and inexpensive means to be used for many practical purposes. This development coincided with the reawakening of interest in the control of air-borne contagion which was brought to the foreground in this country by W. F. Wells. Although low pressure mercury vapor lamps have been used extensively in connection with air-borne microorganisms, it is only in the last three years that quantitative laboratory investiga*Presented before the Laboratory Section of the American Public Health

Journal

American Journal of Public HealthAmerican Public Health Association

Published: Aug 1, 1943

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