At the moment, cleanliness is a high priority considering the global impact of COVID-19. It makes everyone more concerned about their daily hygiene. As a result, many ultraviolet (UV) light sanitizing devices in the market are selling out. Beyond proper social distancing, washing your hands regularly and wearing a face mask, LTV has created at-home or portable UV sanitizer devices to help reduce bacteria and germs on your electronic devices and household items such as phone and keys.

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What are ultraviolet (UV) light sanitizers?

UV-C radiation is a known disinfectant for air, water, and surfaces. UV-C radiation has effectively been used for decades to reduce the spread of bacteria, such as tuberculosis. For this reason, UV-C light are often called "germicidal" light.

Michael Schmidt, PhD, a professor with the department of microbiology and immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina explains “Unlike the average American, our tech devices don’t take a shower each day. We take a shower to remove the microbes affiliated with our skin. The only thing that microbes like better than human skin is plastic and glass.” In other words, germs are attracted and attached to your devices and other products you likely use everyday.

Recently, companies have been releasing products equipped with ultraviolet (UV) light to sanitize products (or themselves). These UV light works to kill the germs on your tech and other household items that might make you sick.

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How do UV light sanitizerswork?

Philip Tierno, PhD, a clinical professor in the department of pathology at New York University Langone Medical Center says that on the UV light spectrum there are UV-A, B, and C lights. But only the UV-C light can kill germs. He explains “This light has a range of effectiveness, which interferes and destroys the nucleic acids of bacteria and other microbes,” adding that the range of light can also disrupt proteins in the microbes by killing certain amino acids. As evident by multiple research studies and reports, when biological organisms are exposed to deep UV light in the range of 200 nm to 300 nm it is absorbed by DNA, RNA, and proteins. Absorption by proteins can lead to rupture of cell walls and death of the organism. “These kill microbes quickly," Schmidt says ofUV-C light. "But when your device comes out, it’s only as safe as its last encounter." In other words, using the UV light sanitizer will not guarantee you to ignore possible new germs on the phone. The more you use it, the more you keep your devices safe and clean from microbes.

Are UV sterilizers worth it?

Amesh Adalja, MD, a senior scholar and assistant professor atthe Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, says that there is “no question that UV radiation is damaging to the virus.” Ehsan Ali, MD, of Beverly Hills Concierge Doctor Inc, says he actually uses light sanitizing devices in his daily life. “UV light devices are worth purchasing because they are known to be effective and have already been in use pre-COVID for sanitation purposes,” he says. He also mentions that you can “absolutely” use these UV sanitizers to disinfect other items, such as face masks, retainers, glasses or makeup brushes.

All in all, if you want to take an extra step to kill bacteria on your phones and other personal items, then consider ordering a UV-C light sanitizer. It sterilizes your items very quick. Beyond UV-sanitizing devices that clean your tech, there are also products that LTV can develop such as water bottles that self-clean. These also employ UV-C light to rid germs and viruses on the inner part.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for UV-C light

At LTV, we are beyond than LED light therapy devices. As the biggest producer of LED lighttherapy devices, we also produce the Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that generate UV-C radiation, which are also becoming more commonly available. Typically, LEDs emit a very narrow wavelength band of radiation. Currently available UV LEDs have peak wavelengths at 265 nm, 273 nm, and 280 nm, among others. One advantage of LEDs over low-pressure mercury lamps is that they contain no mercury.

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What is the FDA’s role in the oversight of UV-C light?

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 Actalso typically require FDA clearance, approval, or authorization prior to marketing.

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References:

https://www.nbcnews.com/shopping/tech-gadgets/best-uv-c-ultraviolet-light-sanitizers-n1119301?icid=related

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/uv-lights-and-lamps-ultraviolet-c-radiation-disinfection-and-coronavirus

https://www.klaran.com/klaran-university/about-uvc

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