Welcome to LEDs Magazine’s UV Tech Insights for Sept. 8, 2022. Straight away, as you scroll you may wonder, “Why is an article about visible light disinfection featured in a newsletter dedicated to ultraviolet technology?” I assure you there’s a method to this madness!

Visible light technology has become a hot topic during the peaks of coverage regarding sanitization and disinfection solutions for air, water, and surfaces. There has been much discussion from interested parties that develop both UV and visible light products about which one serves the needs of society better. Still, we need to understand the mechanisms of both applications. Some in our industry have proposed separating marketing claims from what has been investigated and published. In the recent past, contributing authors and visible-light technology specialists Cliff Yahnke of Kenall and Colleen Costello of Vyv have raised points about efficacy and safety claims by some UV product marketers and additional steps that must be taken in order to ensure UV systems operate according to expectations and without posing unknown risks to occupants or workers in the space.

In that light, I think Ian Ashdown has raised some very good points about the theory of visible light disinfection and how research has been reported by the scientific community. This is only part one; we are planning to publish a second article by Ashdown on the application of visible light technology and its outcomes in studies.

My takeaway from his review of the existing peer-reviewed academic studies is let’s temper our expectations. Stay curious. Find the gaps in the information that is needed to advance these technologies, design them effectively, make them accessible, and establish a well-rounded strategy for application rather than a battle of the bands, so to speak.

Given what I have read to date, there is still plenty we need to learn about how different variables will affect the disinfection claims of both UV and visible light systems. That’s why I’ve included this feature in today’s missive.

Please keep us posted on your own work! We are always looking for solid technical pieces across the entire lighting spectrum.

Carrie Meadows, [email protected]