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UV light & Bateria / Mildew

09/07/2007 12:31 AM

Has any research been done to see if diffused uv light in bathrooms will reduce mildew and other harmful bateria?

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#1

Re: UV light & Bateria / Mildew

09/07/2007 4:30 AM

I dont think I've ever seen mildew growing in the sunlight.......

sunlight has also been used as an anti bacterial for a long time.

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#2

Re: UV light & Bateria / Mildew

09/07/2007 8:13 AM

I am sure it has but i believe no one wants the legal ramifications of the devices exposure to humans. UV light damage skin cells. UV reportedly causes skin cancer.

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#3
In reply to #2

Re: UV light & Bateria / Mildew

09/07/2007 11:15 AM

Ok, but suppose someone made a solar light tube (like solatube) with no UV blockage to gather & disperse light into the bathroom shower exclusively. It could even be designed to expose the UV only when the water was turned off (presumably durning most of the time the shower is unoccupied.

Less chemicals, more energy savings, heathier environment.

Lar2

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#4

Re: UV light & Bateria / Mildew

09/09/2007 10:04 PM

It's the UV wavelength that is responsible for the sterilizing effect of sunlight (UV radiation is ionizing radiation), so a solar light without UV will be almost completely ineffective.

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#5

Re: UV light & Bateria / Mildew

09/10/2007 10:33 AM

That is a good suggetion lar.

The problem with uv is that it is as harmful to us as it is to bacteria.

If uv lamps are installed such that they shine within the water systems such that no light leaks out on any human or pet etc then, maybe it might work.

The other issue ofcourse is cost. UV lamps cost much more than say simply cleanin out your bathroom once in a while!

cheers!

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#6
In reply to #5

Re: UV light & Bateria / Mildew

09/11/2007 11:44 AM

Additionally the effective life of the UV lamp is about 6 months or less depending on the amount of use. This is if the expectation is that of a bactrial/fungistatic role. If you want a strictly *cidal role you are better off with the cleaners and carefully reading the instructions. Most bathroom and kitchen cleaners require a ten minute, wet exposure time to meet their advertised effectiveness.

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#7

Re: UV light & Bateria / Mildew

09/13/2007 4:16 AM

UV equipment is available for sterilizing clean rooms and operating rooms. You set it in the middle of the room and leave. Since UV is so hard on the eyes and skin you would not want to be in the bathroom with a bare behind. UV disrupts the cellular membrane of the small critters bacteria or virus so they cant reproduce. I am very interested in UV for water treatment.

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#9
In reply to #7

Re: UV light & Bateria / Mildew

09/13/2007 9:23 AM

I think if you check with the people responsible for the OR's at hospitals you will find they do noy rely on UV light to maintain a clean environment. The war is fought on three fronts; HEPA filtered air, gowning procedures, and equipment and waste movement procedures are used to prevent entry of organisms, rotation of chemical agents of several types to prevent the ever present critters from gaininig a foothold and the UV light to maintain the environment while not in use. All this is heavily monitored and documented to prove adequate control of the environment. Even water systems I have been involved with do not rely on UV alone. They have some type of physical filtration depending on what is being removed.

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#8

Re: UV light & Bateria / Mildew

09/13/2007 4:35 AM

Mobile UV Sterilizers General Operation:

1. Position unit in center of area to be exposed to germicidal UV
2. Plug unit into 120V, 60Hz outlet
3. Set 24-hour timer for desired UV exposure time
4. Push "On" button - 2 minute delay switch
5. Leave area or put on UV protective glasses. Avoid exposure to direct or reflected UV light
6. Check and clean UV lamps regularly - annual lamp replacement required if used continuously - 12,000 hours rated life.

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#10

Re: UV light & Bacteria / Mildew

09/14/2007 8:34 PM

Ok,

So the use of UL light in disinfecting rooms is presently by using electric light bulbs.

Is there presently any use of sunlight to reduce the need for chemicals in killing the harmful bacteria in some water supplies or bathrooms?

It would appear to be related the volume & intensity of the light.

Can sunlight be adequately intensified using a Fresnel lens to accomplish either water purification in a tropical region, or bacteria reduction further away from the equator?

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#11
In reply to #10

Re: UV light & Bacteria / Mildew

04/01/2017 12:52 PM

With our patented Application Coating, I can turn any LED light into a medical light. I market a product that is a non toxic based solution coating that drys clear and when applied to LED lighting properly will disinfect the room left on while room is being used. It takes about 3 days to adequately disinfect the air and surfaces with our lighting and surface coatings.. Adequate lighting is important but having these lights everywhere we live or play indoors or entertain or educate, etcetera will help to keep bacteria, virus, mold, fungus, oder (VOC's) at lower levels where we live.

David Baca

President MSMART

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David Baca (1); DVader1000 (1); Lar2 (2); Mikes828 (2); Mrinny (1); ozzb (1); patrick.e (1); rustyh2o (2)

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