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Introduction
Your new Verilux® CleanWave® UV-C Sanitizing Wand eliminates up to 99.9%
of viruses (including H1N1), bacteria (including MRSA), germs, mold, dust mite
and fl ea eggs.
We hope you enjoy this product and use it frequently. Your results will be
cumulative – your “kill rate” may be 90% during your fi rst use on a
surface, then “90% of the remaining 10%” on your next use.
About Light and UV-C Light
Visible light is electromagnetic radiation in wavelengths visible to the human
eye. The wavelength of visible light, in nanometers, is about 400 nm to 750 nm.
A nanometer is one billionth of a standard metric meter.
Ultraviolet or UV light is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum – from about
10 nm to 400 nm – that contains frequencies just higher than visible light.
Above ultraviolet rays are X-rays. And above X-rays are gamma rays – the
highest – and highest energy – waves yet found.
Ultraviolet light was discovered by German physicist Johann Ritter. In 1801,
Ritter was experimenting with silver chloride, a chemical known to break down
when exposed to sunlight. He found that light at the blue end of the spectrum
increased the reaction.
Experimenting further, he discovered that the reaction was even more effi cient
when exposed to radiation beyond blue – radiation that was invisible. He called
this new type of radiation ultraviolet, meaning “beyond the violet.” (Ultra comes
from the Latin for “beyond.”)
UV light is invisible to humans, but birds and some species of insects, snakes,
turtles and fi sh can see ultraviolet light.
UV light can be divided into various wavelength bands with differing
characteristics.
The Sun emits ultraviolet radiation in UV-A, UV-B and UV-C bands, but
because of absorption in the ozone layer, 99% of the ultraviolet radiation that
reaches Earth is “long wave” UV-A.
UV-A, also known as “black light,” creates fl uorescent effects at your local
disco and “midnight bowling” sessions as UV light (which cannot be seen) is
absorbed by materials and re-emitted in the visible range.
UV-B “medium wave” rays both help and hurt. Too much UV-B exposure
causes sunburn and can damage human tissue. Too little UV-B exposure leads
to a lack of Vitamin D absorption in animals.
The higher-energy “short wave” UV-C band rays (100 to 280 nanometers) are
highly lethal to microorganisms. This range is known as the Germicidal Spectrum.
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