UV C light is very effective in killing most microorganisms, but in view of the risks is not to be applied carelessly or in any improvised way.

The special lamps to produce UV-C are in short supply at present but can normally be obtained from any good lamp wholesaler.

They resemble fluorescent lamps and are electrically interchangeable therewith.


Years ago I had to group replace a large number of these in a hospital laundry. They were used not to disinfect the laundry itself, this was done by boiling, but to disinfect the laundry trolleys used to convey the clean linen back to the wards.

I was under strict instructions to smash the used but still functional lamps as I removed them, "to avoid danger if ill informed persons attempted re-use"

British Rail used ultra violet water purifying units to treat the water used in the buffet cars and restaurant cars of older trains. For 24 volt DC supply and used an 8 watt lamp. The units had a very small spyhole through which the lamp could be observed to be lit, the amount of UV C escaping through this very small hole was considered to  be acceptable.

UV C lamps are widely used today for water disinfection in the water industry, and also to prevent spread of fish disease in aquaria.


A year or two ago, a number of customers at a disco or nightclub suffered severe sun burn due the mis use of UV C lamps for decorative effect when "blacklight blue" UV lamps should have been used.

UV C light is very effective in killing most microorganisms, but in view of the risks is not to be applied carelessly or in any improvised way.

The special lamps to produce UV-C are in short supply at present but can normally be obtained from any good lamp wholesaler.

They resemble fluorescent lamps and are electrically interchangeable therewith.


Years ago I had to group replace a large number of these in a hospital laundry. They were used not to disinfect the laundry itself, this was done by boiling, but to disinfect the laundry trolleys used to convey the clean linen back to the wards.

I was under strict instructions to smash the used but still functional lamps as I removed them, "to avoid danger if ill informed persons attempted re-use"

British Rail used ultra violet water purifying units to treat the water used in the buffet cars and restaurant cars of older trains. For 24 volt DC supply and used an 8 watt lamp. The units had a very small spyhole through which the lamp could be observed to be lit, the amount of UV C escaping through this very small hole was considered to  be acceptable.

UV C lamps are widely used today for water disinfection in the water industry, and also to prevent spread of fish disease in aquaria.


A year or two ago, a number of customers at a disco or nightclub suffered severe sun burn due the mis use of UV C lamps for decorative effect when "blacklight blue" UV lamps should have been used.