With the use of germicidal UV-C light in air purifiers, you can not only trap mold spores, but also effectively destroy them, preventing the spores from forming new mold.
UV light
is a powerful tool for eliminating airborne contaminants, such as mold spores. Ultraviolet light bombards the microorganisms found around the UV lamp and damages their DNA, which is necessary for them to live. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend the use of ultraviolet or UV light inside a HEPA filtration system.There is a common misconception that UV light can eliminate virtually all contaminants and viruses, including COVID-19, and act as an excellent air purifier. However, having UV light inside an air purifier with HEPA filtration can have more disadvantages than benefits and even be dangerous. With proven germicidal capacity, the UV-C radiation used in UV air purifiers disinfects the air by destroying bacteria and viruses trapped in the HEPA filter. In contrast, HEPA filtration systems work very well on their own, without introducing UV light into the mix.
When people get sunburned after a day at the beach, they get radiation burns from a type of ultraviolet light emitted by the sun. Redness is the inflammatory response of the skin when UV radiation directly damages its DNA, which can lead to skin cancer. Therefore, UV air purifiers must be carefully designed to prevent insulated cables or other plastic parts from being exposed to UV light. UV air purifiers are designed to use short-wave ultraviolet light (UV-C light) to inactivate airborne pathogens and microorganisms, such as mold, bacteria, and viruses. Like ionizers, the use of ultraviolet light in an air purifier raises some concern regarding its impact on human health.
However, UV lights greatly reduce the chances of reintroducing bacteria and viruses into the air when the air purifier is opened to change the filter. This means you'll keep coughing and sneezing if you have an air purifier that uses UV light. After seeing the benefits of UV germicidal lamps, there seems to be an open and closed box in favor of UV lamps. Currently, the Center for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency do not recommend the use of ultraviolet light in HEPA air purifiers. Typically, these bulbs emit a special type of ultraviolet light known as UVC, which represents the most germicidal range of wavelengths in the UV spectrum. While UV light is not a standard application in an air purifier, it is recommended for use in hospital wards or when someone is sick at home.
According to a report prepared by an environmental engineer who works for Austin Air and that we have analyzed, the addition of a UV bulb increases both purchase and maintenance costs, and it is necessary to take important steps to ensure that microorganisms present in the air are exposed to light long enough to neutralize them. This is different from other air purification technologies that contain ultraviolet light technology, but they don't use it directly against air contaminants. The installation of HEPA filters in UV air purifiers serves the essential purpose of trapping bacteria and viruses as small as 0.3 μm, which in turn gives UV radiation sufficient time to inactivate these trapped germs. Fortunately, when the UV light system is installed in your air conditioning system (within the walls of your duct), you or your family are not exposed in a direct or harmful way. In conclusion, while there are some benefits to using ultraviolet light inside an air purifier with HEPA filtration, there are also some potential risks associated with it. It is important to weigh these risks against potential benefits before deciding whether or not to install a UV lamp inside your air purifier.