It's no secret that UV
light is one of the most effective ways to reduce,
control, and sterilize airborne pathogens like germs,
viruses, and bacteria.
UV air purifiers generally
utilize a germicidal UV lamp in addition to other
cleaning technologies, such as HEPA filters or ionic
machines. The UV light in UV air purifiers is the
only way to destroy viruses and render them harmless.
UV air purifiers work by passing air through intense UV
radiation. This radiation damages the DNA of many
microorganisms which leaves them unable to reproduce.
Any germ, virus, or bacteria that is unable to reproduce
is then harmless to humans and pets.
The reason many air purifiers include a germicidal UV
lamp is to destroy microorganisms like viruses
that are too small to be captured by HEPA filters and
other purification technologies.
The benefits of UV air purifiers are well documented
and are commonly used in hospitals to prevent spread of
infectious diseases. In fact, the CDC (Centers for
Disease Control) recommend UV light radiation as a
method to prevent illness and disease-- not a bad
endorsement!
When considering a UV air purifier, it is important
to keep in mind that UV light has no affect on
particulates such as dust, smoke, gases or chemical
fumes. As a stand-alone technology, UV sterilizers will
also have no affect on odors.
So, if you do choose to purchase one of the many UV
air purifiers on the market, make sure that the UV light
is combined with other filtering methods to ensure that
all pollutants are cleaned, not just those that
are alive.
To find air purifiers that utilize this technology,
check out our reviews of the
10 best air
purifiers.
