It's no secret that UV light is one of the most effective ways to reduce, control, and sterilize airborne pathogens like germs, viruses, and bacteria. UV air purifiers generally utilize a germicidal UV lamp in addition to other cleaning technologies, such as HEPA filters or ionic machines. The UV light in UV air purifiers is the only way to destroy viruses and render them harmless.

UV air purifiers work by passing air through intense UV radiation. This radiation damages the DNA of many microorganisms which leaves them unable to reproduce. Any germ, virus, or bacteria that are unable to reproduce is then harmless to humans and pets.

The reason many air purifiers include a germicidal UV lamp is to destroy microorganisms like viruses that are too small to be captured by HEPA filters and other purification technologies.

The benefits of UV air purifiers are well documented and are commonly used in hospitals to prevent spread of infectious diseases. In fact, UV light radiation is a method to prevent illness and disease-- not a bad endorsement!

When considering a UV air purifier, it is important to keep in mind that UV light has no affect on particulates such as dust, smoke, gases or chemical fumes. As a stand-alone technology, UV sterilizers will also have no affect on odors.

So, if you do choose to purchase one of the many UV air purifiers on the market, make sure that the UV light is combined with other filtering methods to ensure that all pollutants are cleaned, not just those that are alive.