UV Light Hype
Posted by Mike Krause at 9/12/2008 2:19 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
We have received several comments and calls about the use of ultraviolet (UV) in air cleaners.
Ultraviolet (UV) has been used for decades as a means to sterilize medical instruments and water. When it was first introduced into the air cleaner market it caused many problems because of the amount of ozone produced by UV-B. About 10 years ago companies started selling UV-C systems designed for air conditioning equipment. It did not produce the harmful ozone that the UV-B did and in fact they did a great job of keeping the air handling units clean.
Then the air cleaner manufacture manufactures got in the game and started installing UV bulbs in their products and making all sorts of exaggerated claims. Yes UV kills bacteria, viruses, germs, etc. True scientific facts. What they don't tell you is that the air is moving past the UV light at 75 to 700 cfm therefore there is very little actual contact time.
FACT...In order for UV to be effective it has to shine on the organism for a certain amount of time and that varies on the organism itself.
If you look in our air cleaner section you will find 2 products that use UV technology. One is the Fresh-Aire air handler unit and the other one is the Airpura UV600 air cleaner. The Fresh-Aire unit keeps coils, liners, motor housings and other internal part free of harmful microbial growth and the light in UV600 kills whatever gets caught in the filter.
The key is they both use UV as a way to keep a certain area clean and free of harmful microbial growth. Keep the surface clean and the byproduct is cleaner healthier air.
Is Ultraviolet helpful in keeping the air in you home clean? Yes, but only when it is used correctly.
Wishing you the best of health
Mike Krause
AllergyStore.com
Ultraviolet (UV) has been used for decades as a means to sterilize medical instruments and water. When it was first introduced into the air cleaner market it caused many problems because of the amount of ozone produced by UV-B. About 10 years ago companies started selling UV-C systems designed for air conditioning equipment. It did not produce the harmful ozone that the UV-B did and in fact they did a great job of keeping the air handling units clean.
Then the air cleaner manufacture manufactures got in the game and started installing UV bulbs in their products and making all sorts of exaggerated claims. Yes UV kills bacteria, viruses, germs, etc. True scientific facts. What they don't tell you is that the air is moving past the UV light at 75 to 700 cfm therefore there is very little actual contact time.
FACT...In order for UV to be effective it has to shine on the organism for a certain amount of time and that varies on the organism itself.
If you look in our air cleaner section you will find 2 products that use UV technology. One is the Fresh-Aire air handler unit and the other one is the Airpura UV600 air cleaner. The Fresh-Aire unit keeps coils, liners, motor housings and other internal part free of harmful microbial growth and the light in UV600 kills whatever gets caught in the filter.
The key is they both use UV as a way to keep a certain area clean and free of harmful microbial growth. Keep the surface clean and the byproduct is cleaner healthier air.
Is Ultraviolet helpful in keeping the air in you home clean? Yes, but only when it is used correctly.
Wishing you the best of health
Mike Krause
AllergyStore.com
UVB light doses not produce ozone the wavelength is to long.
UVC radiation constitutes by the wavelengths between 160 nm and 280 nm, and because of its proven effectiveness in killing single-cell organisms is called germicidal UV. The shorter wavelengths produce ozone in air (oxygen). Solar radiation in the UVC range is absorbed almost entirely by the carbon dioxide and ozone in the atmosphere.
Air Lights; Air Purifiers scientific processes remove contaminants from air and surfaces by combining two very powerful purifying technologies photo plasma and photochemistry. While these methodologies have been well studied and documented by the scientific community, the synergy of their interaction produces a unique and a superlative way of cleaning air and surfaces of contaminants
The purification process takes place both inside and outside of the Plasma Purifier. Unlike other air purifiers and filter systems, this revolutionary process means that air does not have to have to pass through the machine to be purified. The Air Lights purifier generates plasma that goes out into the indoor environment to seek and destroy organisms, odors and other contaminants that are harmful to humans. Photochemistry is the chemical reaction or change in material caused by exposure to light energy. The process typically requires the use of photons in the ultraviolet spectral range.
Ultraviolet light in this range is useful for disinfection purposes. When a strong enough ultraviolet light is present, it becomes useful in the destruction of contaminating organic compounds. Almost all indoor contaminants are organic, such as toxic volatile organic compounds, dust particles like dander, hair, dust mite feces, etc., and biological contaminants like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Photochemistry can break down these harmful organic molecules. Ultraviolet light with enough energy such as in the 100-280 nanometer wavelength range can also break down the electron bonds of an organic molecule. Ultraviolet wavelengths in the 100-280 nanometer bandwidth not only break down electron bonding of an organic molecule, but also initiate the formation of a cold gas plasma. We excite gases by the energy from ultraviolet light waves and create a highly energized gaseous state.
The plasma, or highly energized gaseous state, is aggressive and highly reactive and contains excited atoms and molecules, ionized gases, radicals, and free electrons that seek and destroy just about all organic contaminants.
The destruction mechanism primarily involves the photodissociation of molecular oxygen leading to the formation of highly oxidizing species, such as atomic oxygen, molecular singlet oxygen and ozone. These reactive species interact with contaminants converting most to carbon dioxide and water. The UV light also creates electron ejection of organic molecules that produces additional free radical creation.
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"Almost all indoor contaminants are organic, such as toxic volatile organic compounds, dust particles like dander, hair, dust mite feces, etc., and biological contaminants like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Photochemistry can break down these harmful organic molecules."
I (like all humans) am organic too. Sounds like y'all are trying to break me down and bombard me with free radicals. I'll stick to my HEPA filter, at least I don't have to worry about it deciding if I am a harmful or benign organic material. Geesh, you guys scare me!
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I think the original units installed in ac units was nothing more that black lights.
I'm trying to find some actual published scientific reports on the process used in the Air Lights system. So far all I have found is that it appears to be the same unit as a Biozone air purifier. Which one is the real deal. Your post uses the exact same wording found in their ads. Google photoionic accelerator and see what you find. I've also tried to find additional information on plasma being used in air purification and have come up empty. Please post a source.
While the posting by the allergystore was not 100% correct it did sound like they knew what they were talking about and not trying to blow a bunch of smoke and over sell a product. Don't forget ionic breeze over promised, got sued and lost. I looked at the products they referenced and the product benifits and description are based on proven scientific facts. Nothing fancy but effective.
UV, ionizer, ozone and hepa filters all have a place in the air purification market. The technologies even work well together. This Air lights/Biozone sounds like snake oil to me...
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I've got an old alpine air purifier and this air light sounds just like it except it uses uv instead of ozone. The ionizer charges the particles and they fall to the ground. One unit covers takes care of my whole house. The ozone gets rid of the burnt smell when I cook the popcorn too long but dries out my nose if i leave it set too high. It is 10+ years old and going strong.
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Thank you for pointing out my mistake on the UVB.
I checked out the Air Lights unit and the Biozone and seem like they are made by company. Many companies will private label their products.
I'll do a little research and see what I find out. Keep an eye out for the post.
Also, Dennis make sure the ozone is turned off or way down on your Alpine(now Ecoquest)unit if anyone has asthma or copd. The ozone can trigger an attack.
Wishing you the best of health
Mike Krause
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Biozone and Airlights are the same. Biozone was tested, and given the editor choice award at allergyescape.com in there unbiased report. Here is the link http://www.allergyescape.com/consumer-report-air-purifiers.html
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I just checked consumer reports and they did not show anything for the Biozone. They rated a couple of units from Bionaire.
FYI Allergyescape.com is a content site and the link shown in their comparison chart is an affiliate link. How unbiased can it be? Also, why is the companies that only deal with allergies like National Allergy, ACP, Allergy Store, Achoo not carry these biozone units.
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From the "unbiased resport" "In the above consumer comparison, you saw one air purifier with an outstanding rating; that was the Biozone air purifier with purifying hydroxyl radical technology, negative ions, safe ozone, and UV light."
So is safe ozone something like military intelligence, jumbo shrimp or any other oxymoron?
:o)
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Biozone Purifiers produce .004 ppm according to there manual. The EPA safe level is .08 ppm here is the link http://engineers.ihs.com/news/epa-ground-ozone.htm Also ozone only has a half life of 20-30 mins. Then it turns back into oxygen. Ozone in your home is also produced by plasma TV's, Certain electrical tools, which uses high voltages, like laser printers, ionic air purifiers, photocopiers, and arc welders generate very high levels of ozone.
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ROFLMAO
The EPA also says there are acceptable levels of arsenic in water.....but I don't see people adding arsenic to their water to match the "acceptable" level. Why the %&#(#) would anyone want to add ozone?
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Sorry to tell you this but Many products already in your home make an ozone as a byproduct – kitchen mixers, ceiling fans, hair dryers, refrigerators, freezers, vacuums, computers, TVs, copies, and more, even the fan motor in your HEPA air purifier. You better turn them all off then.
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