UV Food Irradiation Proven to Improve Food Safety

Ultraviolet (UV) light produces electromagnetic UV radiation which has known germicidal and sterilization effects. UV irradiation has many purposes and preventing foodborne illnesses is one important sterilization process that UV light provides to food processors with many health benefits to end-users. UV lamps which emit radiation in the UVC wavelength help to protect against harmful pathogens which can infest food products and keep food fresher longer. 

How Does UV Radiation Protect Food?

When food and beverage products are exposed to UV radiation, powerful germ-killing UVC energy improves the safety and condition of these items. Ultraviolet radiation is absorbed through chemical bonds which protects food without altering food quality and is completely harmless, proven to improve the safety of food and beverage items. Food processing with UV irradiation protects meat processing plants, juices, and beverage pasteurization, and extends the shelf life of produce.

UV irradiation also disinfects surfaces where food is prepared in food processing plants and restaurants around the world. UV radiation for food is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, and is also approved by the US Department of Agriculture, USDA. UV radiation improves food safety, prevents many foodborne illnesses, and preserves foods to last longer, extending the shelf life of various products without risk of disease.

What Types of Foods Are Protected with UV Radiation?

UVC germicidal lamps produce UV irradiation to protect a wide range of food and beverage products by providing the following benefits:

• Prevents infestation of insects in grains, vegetables, nuts, and fruits

• Prevents mold and mildew from accumulating on liquid sugar tanks

• Prevents onions, garlic, and potatoes from sprouting early

• Reduces risk of foodborne illnesses in poultry, meat, and seafood

• Prevents harmful bacteria and viruses such as listeria from developing on conveyor belts which is a serious issue for ready to eat food processors

UVC germicidal lamps are proven effective in food processing applications as well as many other types of sterilization and disinfection processes. UV sterilization lamps improve indoor air quality in public, commercial, industrial, and residential settings with UVC air purification systems. UVC lamps also remove harmful microorganisms and many water sterilization applications such as water treatment plants, pools and spas, Aqua sciences and many other water applications. Surface sterilization is important in many settings such as hospitals, restaurants, laboratories, and many others and is achieved with UVC germicidal lamps.

LightSources is a leading global supplier of UVC germicidal lamp solutions in a wide range of fluorescent, and low-pressure mercury sterilization lamps. We offer custom design and engineering, prototype development, and meet production requirements for OEMs worldwide. Contact us to learn more about high-tech, high quality UVC lamps for food irradiation.

Custom Designed Compact UV Lamps

Compact UV lamps provide many benefits for applications that require UV lighting in small spaces. Compact UVC lamps provide germicidal effectiveness, emailing powerful UV radiation with all the features of larger counterparts packed neatly into a small space. Compact UV lamps provide a wide range of possibilities to provide germicidal efficacy to surfaces, air, and water.

The LightSources group offers compact UV lamps designed and engineered with varying options such as a two-tube linear design which delivers uniform output, your choice of soft glass or quartz glass, ozone or non-ozone emitting lamps, and proprietary technologies available.

Compact UV Lamps in Soft Glass

Soft Glass compact UVC lamps deliver sterilization and disinfection effectiveness at 254nm to small spaces.  254nm is the UVC wavelength determined to provide the greatest germicidal efficacy. Soft Glass compact lamps designed by LightSources provide maximum operating efficiency and are proven to effectively kill pathogens such as bacteria, yeasts, viruses, and harmful microorganisms on surfaces, in the air and in water.

Compact UV Lamps In Quartz

Compact UVC lamps made in Quartz are available in both 185 nm ozone lamps as well as 254 nm germicidal lamps. Quartz low pressure mercury discharge lamps are designed to emit the maximum amount of UVC radiation allowing approximately 90% of UVC energy at 254nm to provide greatest germicidal effectiveness.

Compact UVC Lamps with Amalgam Technology

LightSources offers compact UVC lamps designed with our proprietary Emil gam technology, delivering outstanding UVC efficiency and exceptional value. 

The LightSources group includes the leading high-tech UV lamp designers and engineers combined with a state-of-the-art glass factory and allows for custom engineering with quick turnaround time. Our lamp designers and engineers possess deep technical knowledge of UVC radiation and lamp manufacturing to customize phosphor blends and more to specifically meet your application requirements.

LightSources is a leading global supplier of UVC germicidal lamps, fluorescent and mercury discharge lamps, and custom design solutions. We support OEMs with custom design, engineering, and manufacturing, ISO9001:2015 quality policies and quick turnaround time. Contact us to learn more about our custom compact UV lamps with all the germicidal effectiveness packed into a small space.

Does Ultraviolet Light Reduce TOC’s?

Total Organic Carbon, TOC, refers to organic carbon compounds found in water and may include man-made compounds, natural or altered product, or synthetic material. TOCs may contain bacteria and harmful materials or pathogens that could cause damage, system failure or health consequences if not effectively removed. Identifying and measuring concentration of TOC’s and water and practicing TOC reduction methods protects consumers, the environment, and many industries.

Removal of TOCs is critical in many applications where high-purity water is important for process quality. TOC reduction is important in: 

• Pharmaceutical industry processes

• Wastewater treatment

• Food and beverage industry

• Semiconductor and microelectronics production 

The impact of TOCs such as bacteria and other organic compounds can have serious negative effects on these processes and others. 

How UV Lamps Reduce TOCs

Ultraviolet, UV, lamps have been used for more than 100 years to eliminate harmful viruses and bacteria in many disinfection applications.  UVC lamps effectively kill microorganisms on surfaces, in the air and in water. UV lamps for TOC reduction remove harmful TOCs from water sources for many applications. 

Some TOC removal lamps utilize 185 nanometer (nm) emissions to produce ozone, which is a powerful oxidizer. Ozone lamps leads to oxidation of the total organic compounds which is the chemical reaction caused by 185 nm UV lamps.  TOCs are ionized by UV lamps and are then removed by a deionization process. 

Benefits of UV Lamps for TOC Reduction

UV lamps for TOC reduction provide many benefits in addition to delivering an effective, safe and reliable method to purify water.  UV lamps which are designed to emit wavelengths in the 254 nm range are the most effective germicidal lamps, and also remove viruses, bacteria, mold and other harmful pathogens including TOCs.  UV lamps for TOC reduction provide:

• Germicidal efficacy

• Low maintenance costs

• Low operational costs

• Can be used in air, water, and surfaces indoors or outdoors

• Produce no harmful byproducts such as with chemicals 

LightSources is a leading global supplier of UV lamps for germicidal applications in air, water, and surfaces. We provide high-quality, high-tech UVC germicidal lamps and UV lamps for TOC reduction.  Contact us to learn more about our UV germicidal lamps and TOC removal. 

How UV Light Kills Bacteria on Surfaces

Killing bacteria with UV light is a highly effective method of improving health and safety with reliable sterilization and disinfection of many surfaces. Ultraviolet (UV) light is emitted from the sun in basically three different wavelengths, either UVA, UVB, or UVC. UVC is shortwave radiation that is entirely absorbed by the ozone layer. It is these UVC radiation wavelengths, measured in nanometers at the most effective 254 nm wavelength, which eliminates many types of bacteria and viruses. UVC light emitted at 185 nm produces ozone.

UVC germicidal lamp engineers replicate 185 nm UVC radiation for ozone lamps and 254 nm UVC radiation for many other types of effective sterilization lamps. UVC lamps are used in sterilization systems to disinfect surfaces, water, and air with high efficacy and many benefits.

What Types Of Surfaces Can You Disinfect with UVC Lamps?

UVC lamps are beneficial in almost any environment on many types of surfaces. Because surfaces need direct exposure to UVC lamps, when they are already cleaned with manual cleaning methods UVC energy is better absorbed. This is why UVC lamps provide a safety net with additional measures to ensure disinfection when used in conjunction with manual cleaning methods especially in environments like hospitals and medical care facilities.

UVC lamps are being utilized to disinfect surfaces in a wide range of environments such as residential homes, industrial operations, and commercial properties in public places. UVC lamps have been used for decades to sterilize surfaces and hospitals such as surgical equipment and operating rooms as well as patient rooms especially those known to have contracted a serious infection. Germicidal lamps are proven to eliminate bacteria called superbugs. UVC lamps effectively eliminate many types of superbugs like MRSA, C., Diff., E.Coli, Salmonella and many others making them a great addition to hospital sterilization methods

UVC robots are becoming more popular as they provide effective sterilization after manual cleaning crews have left a patient room and can reach many places missed by manual cleaning methods.

UVC lamps are beneficial to sterilize surfaces in many environments such as:

• Hospitals

• Restaurants

• Food irradiation

• Industrial commercial properties

• Schools

• Libraries

• Public transportation systems

• Residential homes

UVC germicidal lamps provide high efficacy up to 99.9999% elimination of bacteria and viruses, are low maintenance without the need to purchase, store or dispose of harmful chemicals and leave no hazardous byproduct. The quality of UVC germicidal lamps makes a difference in the efficacy and lifetime performance.

LightSources offers a wide range of UVC germicidal lamp solutions to meet disinfection requirements of various surface sterilization systems. Our UVC lamps are used to sterilize surfaces, air and water in a number of disinfection applications worldwide. Contact us to learn more about our high-performance, long-lasting, innovative UVC germicidal lamp solutions.

UV Sterilization Lamps for Surface, Air and Water Sterilization

Ultraviolet, UV, sterilization lamps are lamps that are designed and engineered to emit ultraviolet radiation in the UVC range which is extremely effective at destroying many viruses and bacteria. UVC germicidal lamps are used in a wide range of industries and applications to sterilize surfaces, sanitize and purify the air we breathe, and eliminate waterborne viruses and bacteria.  LightSources is a leading global supplier of UVC germicidal lamps proven in nearly any type of surface, air, or water sterilization application.

UVC Lamps for Surface Sterilization

UVC germicidal lamps are used in many industries and applications to sterilize surfaces including:

• Hospitals

• Restaurants 

• Grocery stores

• Research labs

• Schools

• Public places

• Commercial and residential environments

UV Germicidal Lamps for Air Purification

UVC lamps are effective at eliminating airborne viruses when properly installed in HVAC units and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, UVGI, units. UV air sterilization systems can be installed in nearly any environment such as residential homes, commercial and public properties and industrial applications. UVC lamps in HVAC units help to sterilize and purify the air in two different ways, by treating air circulating through the system as well as preventing mold from accumulating on condenser units.

UVC Lamps for Water Sanitation

UVC lamps are used in a broad range of water sterilization applications such as in wastewater treatment plants and many other applications which require sterilized and purified water. UVC radiation can actually kill waterborne viruses that chlorine does not. And is used in many water applications such as:

• Wastewater treatment

• Pools and spas

• Life-sciences

• Ballast water treatment systems

• Aquaculture

UVC germicidal lamps for water purification are highly effective.  LightSources offers a wide range of UVC germicidal lamps proven in water sanitation applications and developed with proprietary technology such as our pellet amalgam germicidal lamp technology. We offer low pressure, medium pressure, high pressure, and amalgam technology as well as UVC ozone lamps proven in many water sterilization applications.

LightSources offers UVC germicidal lamps for any sterilization application. Our lighting engineers possess deep technical knowledge and assist customers with custom-designed germicidal solutions to meet their application needs. Contact us to learn more about our UVC germicidal lamps and how to incorporate them in your application for a cleaner and healthier, sterilized environment.

Does UV Light Kill Covid?

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is the virus that causes COVID-19 and a devastating global pandemic that began in early 2020. As of January 1, 2022, according to the John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center Global Map, there have been 5,442,655 deaths globally and over 825,982 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the U.S. alone. Public health systems and economies continue to struggle against the changing variants such as the latest omicron variant which is spreading rapidly.

For more than 100 years, ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been used to disinfect and sterilize many environments, and public health officials are realizing that UV light provides an added layer of protection against infection from many viruses and bacteria, including SARS-CoV-2.

Does UV Light Kill Covid?

According to an article published by the American Journal of infection control, regarding the Susceptibility of SARS-CoV-2 to UV irradiation, published in August 2020, UV light effectively sterilizes a wide range of microorganisms and is an added tool for use in reaction to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While more research has yet to be completed regarding the exact dosage and exposure time of UVC radiation to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, UVC sterilization systems are proven to eliminate other coronaviruses in the same beta coronavirus family. UVC radiation effectively eliminates the viruses that cause MERS and SARS, other respiratory outbreaks caused by a coronavirus.

A recent article published in Medical Life-Sciences, explains how UVC sterilization systems can be an extra layer of defense against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. UVC sterilization systems can be utilized in many public places including hospitals, restaurants, hotels, airports, universities, public transportation systems and more. 

Exposure to UVC radiation can harm the skin and eyes.  These systems such as UVC robots should be used without direct exposure to human contact and under the advice of a professional with correct UVC disinfection systems properly installed for maximum efficacy and operation.

LightSources is a leading global supplier of UV lamps and lighting solutions including UVC germicidal lamps for air sterilization, surface and water disinfection applications. We offer OEM oriented solutions with custom lamp designs, prototype development, a strict quality policy and quick turnaround time. Contact us to learn more about our UVC germicidal lamp solutions proven in sterilization systems worldwide.