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Does the medium-pressure UV disinfectant emit radiation?

2022-07-04

Does the medium-pressure UV disinfectant emit radiation?

　　Ultraviolet light is a type of long-wave radiation with wavelengths ranging from 320 to 400 nm. It penetrates deep into the skin and can reach the dermis through the epidermis. Although it takes time to show effects, it causes immediate darkening of the skin. Therefore, even small amounts can cause significant damage to the skin. So... Medium-pressure UV sterilizer Is there radiation?

　　1. Prolonged exposure can easily lead to symptoms such as skin laxity, wrinkles, and telangiectasia. At the same time, it amplifies its effects on the skin. It can penetrate glass windows and curtains—even on rainy days. That’s why it’s also referred to as “ultraviolet radiation of life.”

　　2. Medium-wave ultraviolet radiation in the erythema range acts on the superficial layer of the skin and produces rapid effects. It stimulates keratinocytes in the skin, prompting them to produce a substance that dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow. Prolonged exposure can also cause mutations in melanocytes, leading to sunburns that are difficult to eliminate.

　　3. Short-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation has weak penetrating power and cannot pass through most transparent glass or plastics. Almost all of the short-wave UV radiation contained in sunlight is absorbed by the ozone layer. Short-wave UV radiation poses significant health risks to humans: short-term exposure can cause skin burns, while prolonged or high-intensity exposure may lead to skin cancer. UV disinfection lamps emit short-wave UV radiation and are widely used in hospitals, air-conditioning systems, sterilization cabinets, water treatment equipment, drinking water dispensers, wastewater treatment plants, swimming pools, food and beverage processing and packaging equipment, food factories, cosmetic factories, dairy plants, breweries, beverage plants, bakeries, cold storage facilities, and more.

　　4. The manufacturer of medium-pressure UV disinfectors stated: A UV sterilization lamp is actually a low-pressure mercury lamp. Like ordinary fluorescent lamps, it differs in that the glass tube of a fluorescent lamp is made of ordinary glass, which does not allow ultraviolet light to pass through; instead, the UV light is absorbed by the phosphor coating on the inner wall of the lamp tube, exciting it to emit visible light. By altering the composition and proportion of the phosphor, you can produce light of different colors that we commonly see. The lamp tubes used in sterilization lamps typically employ fused silica glass, since fused silica glass has a transmittance rate as high as 80% to 90% across all UV wavelengths, making it an ideal material for sterilization lamps.

　　Medium-pressure UV sterilizer: UV germicidal lamp

　　1. There are several types of germicidal lamps, such as thermal-cathode low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamps and cold-cathode low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamps. Depending on their shape and intensity, they can be categorized into various types. Glass and ordinary glass differ significantly in performance, primarily due to their differing coefficients of thermal expansion. Generally, aluminum caps cannot provide an effective seal.

　　2. Therefore, bakelite, plastics, or ceramics are mostly used as base materials for germicidal lamps. Among all wavelengths of ultraviolet light, only short-wave ultraviolet radiation possesses germicidal and disinfecting effects, making it a purely physical disinfection method. This method is characterized by its rapid action, no need to add chemical agents, absence of drug resistance, and no secondary pollution.

　　3. Ultraviolet light destroys the molecular structures within microbial cells—such as bacteria and viruses—by irradiating them, leading to DNA strand breaks, cross-linking of nucleic acids and proteins, and ultimately causing the death of both growing and regenerating cells, thereby achieving a powerful sterilization and disinfection effect. Ultraviolet light boasts excellent bactericidal performance.

　　4. The manufacturer of medium-pressure UV disinfectors stated: The primary targets of ultraviolet (UV) radiation are the eyes and exposed skin. Short-term, high-intensity exposure can cause burns to both the eyes and skin, while prolonged, high-intensity exposure may even lead to skin cancer. UV radiation has extremely weak penetrating power and can be completely blocked by ordinary transparent glass, clothing, plastics, dust, and other materials. Therefore, when wearing glasses, it’s best to cover exposed skin with clothing as well—this will help protect both your eyes and skin from UV damage.


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