ULTRAVIOLET  LIGHT  TECHNOLOGIES

Critical Flaws in the Disinfecting Process

 

 1. Unlike insecticides, disinfectants have no residual effect. Disinfectants must be mixed in a solution with water to activate their destructive properties. Disinfectants must be in direct contact with a pathogen for a period of time that varies according to the product and the microorganism. 

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  2. A property of physics called specific gravity causes aqueous solutions to pool and gather in droplets on flat surfaces. This effect is seen when freshly waxed vehicles are washed. We have all seen water droplets form conical “bubbles” on the hood of the car. Disinfectant solutions, guided by the same physical effect, run down vertical surfaces in streams and rivulets. This means much of the surface area on which disinfectant solutions are applied, remain untouched and untreated. Liquid disinfectants must remain in wet contact with a microorganism in order to destroy it, sometimes for as long as 5 to 10 minutes. In practical terms, the problem of specific gravity severely restricts the ability of liquid disinfectants to cover a surface, so most of the surface area we seek to disinfect remains untouched.

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3. It takes too long for disinfectants to work. Disinfectants require wet, direct contact with a pathogen to damage or destroy it. Contact times can take as long as 5 to 10 minutes. Sprayer atomize solutions. The fine mist that lands on the surface will evaporate and dry very quickly. Anyone applying liquid disinfectant would need stand over the target surface, and spray the product over and over, to even have a chance at complete disinfection. These factors make it virtually impossible to disinfect vertical surfaces like walls, doors, and splashboards, or “frequent touch” surfaces like door knobs and light switches, since they cannot be kept wet for the required time to be effective.

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Ultraviolet devices illuminate every square millimeter of surface. The

potent UVC light is safe to humans, but deadly to viral, bacterial, and 

fungal pathogens. The few remaining surfaces that are hidden from 

the light can be cleaned by hand, as in the past.

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  4. Liquid disinfecting solutions cannot be used on many surfaces

that need disinfecting. Keyboards and keypads on computer

equipment, phone equipment, electrical equipment, and medical

devices require other forms of disinfection. These frequent touch

surfaces transfer more viral and bacterial pathogens than any other

surfaces in the environment. A recent study indicated 30% of

pathogenic material on a surface can be transferred to human skin in

as little as 5 seconds.

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Ultraviolet light shines on everything in view, pens, pencils, staplers, telephones and keyboards.

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  5. No one follows the directions on the label! It is actually a 

federal law that disinfectants must be applied in the manner

described by the label directions. It actually says that on the

label. All disinfectants must be applied then allowed to remain

on the surface for the required time...to be effective.

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Professional environmental service workers, kids helping to clean 

the kitchen, guys cleaning the garage, all apply these products

the same way...they spray the product onto the surface and 

immediately wipe it off. While this is fine for cleaning products, this 

method does not work with disinfectants. 

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Conclusion: Ultraviolet light exposure is more effective and less expensive.

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