Talk:Germicidal lamp

Normally, the quartz envelope of standard low-pressure germicidal "G-series" fluorescent lamps is intentionally doped with materials to absorb mercury emissions below 254nm. This is to prevent ozone production in situations where ozone is not desired (in an EPROM eraser or mineral-hunting lamp, for example). The common G4T5 lamp is one of these. In cases where ozone production is needed, then special high-purity fused quartz is used, and the bulbs are operated at higher pressures to accentuate the shorter ozone-producing wavelengths. These are much more dangerous to operate, since ozone is both toxic and extremely reactive, and any excess must be neutralized or vented properly. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.55.200.20 (talk) 15:36, 27 October 2010 (UTC)

Method of operation of germicidal lamps
The method of operation of germicidal lamps is explained very poorly: "This short-wave ultraviolet light disrupts DNA base pairing causing thymine-thymine dimers leading to death of bacteria on exposed surfaces."

Besides needing clarification as to what thymine-thymine dimers are and exactly how UV light creates them, clarification is needed as to how this modification of DNA can cause cell death (as opposed to sterilization). DNA is usually thought of as active only during cell division (as opposed to Ribosomal RNA). During most of the lifetime of a bacterium it is not dividing, and therefore a change in its DNA would have no effect. Certainly, no change in DNA alone could cause apoptosis, the most common kind of cell death. David Spector (talk) 08:20, 21 December 2011 (UTC)

Ultraviolet LEDs
I'm having a very hard time finding any potential sources. Probably best to get help from editors who know where to look. While searching for possible sources, I'm just going to copy anything that looks like it could be useful at all: --Ronz (talk) 16:39, 28 June 2016 (UTC)
 * http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/SafePracticesforFoodProcesses/ucm103137.htm
 * Nice summary of use of uv light for food pathogens, but no mention of LEDs. Includes details on how uv light works. --Ronz (talk) 16:39, 28 June 2016 (UTC)
 * https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Michael_Kneissl/publication/49642919_Application_of_GaN-based_ultraviolet-C_light_emitting_diodes-UV_LEDs-for_water_disinfection_Water_Res/links/00b49536f9dcf3112a000000.pdf
 * Description of the LEDs being used and their effectiveness in 2010.
 * https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Olivier_Autin/publication/270007095_Application_of_high_intensity_UVC-LED_for_the_removal_of_acetamiprid_with_the_photo-Fenton_process/links/5530ddc70cf27acb0de88dee.pdf
 * Shows that LEDs have benefits but are currently low intensity - a reactor design is important
 * http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969716302509
 * Article on UV-C, UV-A, and visible LEDs for disinfection.
 * http://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/3/1/7/htm
 * Study on small point of use applications. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Morrow363 (talk • contribs) 14:00, 5 August 2016 (UTC)

Adding LEDs to germicidal UV lamps
Since LEDs are new to this field it is difficult to add into this page. LEDs are physically different in almost every way when compared to mercury lamps. We need to find a way to explain these differences, and applications without advertising. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Morrow363 (talk • contribs) 12:56, 29 June 2016‎

reflected and diffused
I notice the recent revert that reflected light can be harmful. This reverts a change from two years ago by an IP address with only this edit! I am a little less sure about appropriately diffused light. I presume it depends on how diffused it is ... Gah4 (talk) 03:19, 21 March 2020 (UTC)

ozone
The article says: For most purposes, ozone production would be a detrimental side effect of lamp operation. They used to (maybe 50 years ago) put ozone lamps in clothes dryers for germicidal purpose. Maybe some light would get in, too, but they were specifically marketed as ozone lamps. Gah4 (talk) 23:28, 28 March 2020 (UTC)
 * Ozone lamps, such as OZ4S11 were used in dryers, are in this catalog on real page 65, or PDF page 67. They can be used in series with a 40W lamp or with an inductive ballast. Gah4 (talk) 03:54, 1 April 2020 (UTC)
 * Ozone lamps, such as OZ4S11 were used in dryers, are in this catalog on real page 65, or PDF page 67. They can be used in series with a 40W lamp or with an inductive ballast. Gah4 (talk) 03:54, 1 April 2020 (UTC)