ULTRAVIOLET

The name means ultra means "beyond" (from Latin ultra), and the name violet is the color of the shortest wavelength of visible light. So, ultraviolet means 'beyond violet'. It's also called black light, as it is invisible to the human eye. (But the blacklight you buy in the store is not the same as the ultraviolet light used for air purifiers).

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than visible light, but longer than soft X-rays. UV can be subdivided into near UV and extreme or vacuum UV. When considering the effects of UV radiation on human health, the range of UV wavelengths is often subdivided into UV-A (380-315 nm), UV-B (315-280 nm), and UV-C (280-10 nm).

The sun emits both UV-A and UV-B ultraviolet, but because of absorption in the ozone layer, almost 100% of the ultraviolet light that reaches the Earth's surface is UV-A. In astronomy, hot objectsin space emit UV light but the ozone layer absorbs much of it so most UV observations are made from space. Fluorescent lamps produce UV light from the low-pressure mercury gas. A phosphorescent coating on the inside of the lamps absorbs the UV and turns it into visible light. Ultraviolet lamps are used to sterilize workspaces and tools used in biology laboratories and medical facilities. Bees can see into the near ultraviolet, and flowers often have markings visible to the bees, but not to us.

The two types of UV light, when not relating it to humans, is the 380-200 nm wavelength and 200-10 nm (vacuum wavelength).

To learn more about the air purifiers that use ultraviolet light please continue at the top of the next column to the right.

All UV-C germicidal lamps are actually fluorescent lamps filled with argon gas and mercury vapor. Some UV lamps are called UV-V lamps, which is a lamp that produces ozone, a toxic gas in large amounts. We use only UV-C.

The inner surface of a standard fluorescent lamp's glass is coated with a fluorescent paint made of metallic and phosphor salts. The lamp's cathode rams the vapor with electrons causing it to emit ultraviolet light (photo plasma). Regular fluorescent lamp UV light is absorbed by the lamp's fluorescent coating. The coating reradiates the energy at longer frequencies, thus emitting visible light. Different mixes of phosphors control the color of the light.

UV-C light is germicidal light. A fluorescent tube without the inner coating mentioned above. There are many types of UV-C lamps, and many of them are so weak they're virtually worthless. A proper dose of UV-C light deactivates DNA used by viruses, bacteria, and airborne pathogens, preventing their reproduction, which causes the death of these microbes, preventing the spead of disease. Amazingly, if an organism attempts to reproduce after being exposed to UV-C light it dies. The modifications are so strong it actually destroys the microbes when they attempt to multiply. Ultraviolet light is a chemical free, filter free way of cleaning the air. UV-C destorys mold, bacteria, viruses, and more. It has cured many of allergies, sinus problems, reduced asthma conditions, reduced hay fever, and easier, cleaner breathing. One CaluTech customer was able to remove the nebulizer from the home after installation of our unit. Their 5 year old's symptoms went away after 4 years of hospital & doctor visits, and a lot of prescriptions.