The hospital’s contaminated environment has proven to be a major source of concern and is still one of the main ways that germs/ bacteria/ pathogens/ microorganisms are spread to healthy people. Because chemical disinfectants cause multiple problems and provide inadequate disinfection, their regular usage for cleaning and disinfection has sparked severe concerns. Additionally, it has been shown that cleaning methods involving chemical products, no matter how costly the items are, are less successful. To address these concerns, a great deal of research has already been done to find ways that “no-touch” disinfection technology could replace chemicals in disinfection procedures. Consequently, there is a growing interest in alternate disinfection methods, especially in healthcare settings. Researchers have discovered UV technologies in this area, and they have garnered a lot of attention because of their effective and useful ability to disinfect surfaces, food, water, and air. Traditionally, shorter wavelength UV light is produced using mercury lamps operated at low pressure (less than 1 atm). Mercury is a component that provides a concern to the environment despite their high degree of disinfection. It absorbs quickly into the skin or respiratory system, builds up in the body, and frequently has a devastating poisonous impact on humans. Moreover, despite their historical usage in healthcare, mercury-based devices have significant drawbacks that make their use extremely controversial. Significant environmental pollution could result from breakage and inappropriate disposal, posing a risk to patients, healthcare workers, and the society at large. Mercury exposure carries significant health hazards, including the possibility of birth abnormalities. According to a National Academies of Science report, every year over 60,000 babies are born in the US with neurological issues as a result of mercury poisoning. Moreover, among the many health problems connected to mercury exposure are ailments affecting the neurological, digestive, immunological, renal, and respiratory systems. Because of this, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which was established in 2013, has led to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) publicly announcing an unconditional ban on the production of items containing mercury after 2020. This suggests that new methods are needed to replace mercury lamps, which may be a viable source of antibacterial operations and a dependable replacement for such technology. Due of its potential benefits over liquid disinfectants, UV technologies have attracted attention in this regard.
UV-C LEDs have overcome all of these restrictions thanks to recent developments, which is why LEDs have become more and more popular. However, other UV lamp types, such as excimer technology (pulsed xenon lamps, krypton-chloride excimer lamps), have grown in popularity and have proven to be a respectable substitute for LP mercury vapor lamps in addition to UV-C LEDs. Similar to UV-C LEDs, this technology offers a number of advantages, including a longer lifespan, no warm-up time, and no mercury content. However, the use of excimer lamps, such as pulsed xenon lamps, in a continuous air disinfection system is limited because of their poor efficacy and pulsatile nature.
On the other hand, UV-C LEDs have surmounted these limitations in a variety of ways, including the lack of hazadous components like mercury, non-pulsatile treatment, and the partial use of a metallic material that does not leak out in the event of a failure or disposal. These LEDs also have a low power density, don’t create ozone, and only slightly deteriorate with time. Additionally, it emits light at different wavelengths and does not require a warm-up period to reach its maximum output intensity. These advantages, combined with wavelength adjustments and almost instantaneous starts, provide UV-C LED ballasts with a great deal of design freedom. It is imperative to underscore the expense of UV-C LEDs in comparison to traditional lamps, given that UV-C LEDs are generally perceived as being more economically viable. Additionally, the longer lifespan of UV-C LEDs reduces the need for frequent replacement, which ultimately benefits the customer by saving money on maintenance and replacement. Due to its lower energy consumption, which also results in a reduction in overall power bills, UV-C LEDs are also a financially sound long-term alternative. Regular disinfection operations could be implemented with such technology to maintain successful disinfection procedures while lowering operating expenses in healthcare facilities or other indoor environments.
In conclusion, disinfection is changing radically as traditional chemical agents give way to cutting-edge technologies that offer increased safety and efficacy. The advancements in “no-touch” disinfection research, especially with the introduction of UV-C LEDs, highlight a paradigm shift in how disinfection settings are maintained. With the advent of UV-C LEDs, we can wave goodbye to the downsides and environmental issues caused by conventional mercury lamps and mark a significant advancement in disinfection techniques and a dedication to cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and health.
[Click on image to read the magazine]
[Click on image to read the magazine]