UV Light, Indoor Air Quality And Health

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air quality has a tremendous impact on people's health. Germicidal UV light has been proven effective and utilized in numerous applications to improve indoor air quality and therefore indoor environment.

The EPA states that indoor air pollution can be much higher than the outdoor environment. In order to fight indoor air pollution people who suffer from asthma or allergies attempt to dust more, keep the windows closed, clean frequently  but the allergy or asthma symptoms usually still persist. One reason is the presence of airborne germs, their particles and by products - allergens or asthma triggers in the indoor air. These microbes are considerably big factor in the indoor air pollution.

The airborne germs adversely affect the indoor air quality as they are blown past the furnace or air conditioning filter and circulated throughout the buildings. Ultraviolet light - UVC - is recommended for hospitals, laboratories, food processing plants and other public facilities concerned with the indoor air quality as a health factor. UV was incorporated in The Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings by the U. S. General Services Administration Office of the Chief Architect.

Numerous health studies have shown that germicidal ultraviolet light - uvc - is very effective against mold, mildew, fungi and viruses, bacteria and spores by breaking down their DNA. UV light can play a great role in secondary allergy prevention especially where airborne allergens are concerned. It can reduce suffering from allergies. The UV air cleaners help control germs that make asthma worse. Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation - UVGI is the use of short UV waves, known as UVC, which has been proven to kill or inactivate tuberculosis in the indoor air. There are two ways in which UV lamps are used for indoor air quality control - upper-room air and in-duct ultraviolet germicidal irradiation. Many airborne pathogens can be removed from the indoor air by the use of germicidal ultraviolet air disinfection systems.

The following UV resources offer detailed information on how modern technology uses the ultraviolet light in residential and commercial settings to fight mold and airborne pathogens helping provide healthier indoor environment:

Health Watch - Mold Analysis Reports

UV against Avian (Bird) Flu

UV Light against allergies

UV helps fight asthma

UV Effective Against Bioterrorism - A Harvard Public Health Study

UV For Biological Protection - FEMA

UV Light fights anthrax

UV for control of tuberculosis TB

UVC and IAQ Case Study in a school

UVC and IAQ Case Study in a city hospital

Public Buildings Air and UV Standards

Articles referencing UV and the Indoor Air Quality

Mold Remediation and Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air pollution