International Ultraviolet Association Inc Projects, Articles, & Repository

Remembering Jim Bolton

Perri Katzman — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 19:27:09 GMT

Dear IUVA Members,

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of Dr. James (Jim) R. Bolton’s passing on October 21, 2025.

Jim’s impact on the ultraviolet technology community cannot be overstated. His pioneering research, leadership, and decades of dedication helped shape the global UV industry into what it is today. As a founder of the IUVA, longtime Executive Director, and Editor of IUVA News, Jim guided our organization with vision, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to advancing UV science for public good. Many of the innovations and standards we rely on today exist because of his work.

In 2022 Jim spoke as a special guest on the IUVA podcast, Wavelength, about the history of UV disinfection. To listen to the conversation on the Milwaukee Cryptosporidium outbreak of 1993, the best and worst innovations to come out of the pandemic, tips for early career professionals, and more, you can listen at PodBeam or Spotify.

We will find ways to honor his legacy within IUVA. For now, we invite you to reflect on Jim’s extraordinary life in the obituary below.

https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/theglobeandmail/name/james-bolton-obituary?id=59923787

Lessons Learned from 30 Years of Decentralized UV Water Treatment in Low-Resource Settings

Perri Katzman — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 23:30:58 GMT

Congratulations to IUVA member Sara Beck and her industrious team on their latest publication: Decentralized UV disinfection systems in rural areas or low-resource contexts: a case study compilation, out now in the journal Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology.

The paper profiled 19 case studies of small, decentralized UV water disinfection systems implemented within the past 30 years across 4 continents. By compiling and comparing these widely variable systems, their work provided a unified baseline for measurement and tracking.

The research team found supporting evidence for the utility of UV technologies for improving safe water access in low-resource settings and provided recommendations for implementation and engineering of future systems.

IUVA Announces New 2025 Leadership

Perri Katzman — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:03:52 GMT

We are delighted to announce that Ernest ("Chip") Blatchley, Purdue University, has begun his term as President of the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA). He succeeds the position from Ted Mao, Evercloak. Kumiko Oguma, University of Tokyo, has been named President-Elect. IUVA members elected a slate of officers and new board members at their biennial World Congress, held in September 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Additional Elected Executive Operating Committee Officers include:

Ted Mao, Evercloak – Secretary
Gary Hunter, Black and Veatch – Treasurer
Ron Hofmann, University of Toronto – co-VP Americas
Oliver Lawal, AquiSense Technology – co-VP Americas
Richard Joshi, Joshi Solutions Ltd. – co-VP EMEA
Hadas Mamane, Tel Aviv University – co-VP EMEA
Ian Mayor-Smith, University of Brighton – co-VP EMEA

The new IUVA Board of Directors members include:

Cameron Miller, National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Lew Radonovich, IUVA
Rick Rasansky, XCMR Inc.
Ton von Remmen, Van Remmen UV Technology
Nabiha Ben Sedrine, Castros S.A.

Congratulations to our new board members and elected officers!

California Senate Bill Regulating UV Devices Not Moving Forward

Michael CreativeDG — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 20:24:14 GMT

IUVA Submits Comments, Offers Expertise, to Address the Science of the Proposed Legislation

In February of this year, a bill was introduced to the California State Senate, SB 1308: Ozone: indoor air cleaning devices, that would require the California Air Resources Board to adopt regulations for indoor air cleaning devices to limit ozone emission concentrations to 5 ppb, replacing the current limit of 50 ppb; and to ban the sale or the offering for sale in California of devices that exceed the 5 ppb emissions limit, even if previously certified.

That proposed bill has been pulled and will not be moving forward.

In response to the bill, the International Ultraviolet Association collaborated with industry, academia, and others to submit two comment letters opposing, unless amended, the bill; and in addition, the IUVA offered the responsible senate committee the opportunity to engage and discuss the science of UV technology.

In its submissions, the IUVA reviewed the proven ability of UV devices to substantially reduce the risk of disease transmission associated with airborne and surface-associated pathogens, in a manner that presents minimal risk to human health. The IUVA commented that the bill would have likely eliminated the use of Far UVC technology in California, a technology with the potential to become an important, safe, tool for reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections, surgical site infections in healthcare facilities, and infections in various other public settings. In addition, it was pointed out that the concentration of indoor ozone is largely associated with outdoor air that is brought into an indoor space by the use of conventional heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, therefore warranting further research.

IUVA members interested in developing the group’s regulatory educational outreach are encouraged to email Gary Cohen with IUVA.

2024 IUVA Scholarship is Now Open

Michael CreativeDG — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 16:07:38 GMT

2024 IUVA SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

Purpose:

To aid in the nurturing and growth of the next generation of UV industry leaders.

Eligibility:

Any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in an accredited university/college science, technology, engineering, or mathematics program.
A current member of the IUVA in good standing.

Scholarship Awards:

Three, $2,500 Awards

Awards delivered in 2 annual installments of $2,500 each
Includes: A travel stipend to IUVA Regional Conference, IUVA Symposium, or IUVA World Congress, whichever is happening that year, to present their work

APPLY BY APRIL 25

IUVA Announces New President/Officers, Board Members

Michael CreativeDG — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 13:35:47 GMT

The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) is pleased to announce that Ted Mao, Chief Technology Officer, Evercloak, has assumed the role as President of the group for a two year term. Ernest (Chip) Blatchley, Purdue University, has been named President-Elect; and Jennifer Osgood, with CDM Smith, is now immediate past president--with each serving to help lead the IUVA Executive Operating Committee and Board. IUVA members elected a slate of officers and new board members at their biennial World Congress, held in September, 2023 in Dubai, UAE.

Additional Elected Executive Operating Committee Officers include:

Richard Joshi, Evoqua, Secretary
Gary Hunter, Black and Veatch, Treasurer
Ron Hofmann, University of Toronto, co-VP Americas
Oliver Lawal, AquiSense Technologies, co-VP Americas
Kumiko Oguma, The University of Tokyo, VP Asia
Hadas Mamane, Tel Aviv University, co-VP EMEA
Ian Mayor-Smith, University of Brighton, co-VP EMEA

In addition, the IUVA elected a slate of new Board members, including:

Dianne Poster, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Curtis Donskey, Prof. of Medicine at Case Western Reserve
Kate McPhaul, Univ. of Maryland Public Health Aerobiology Lab
Ran Yin, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
Ashish Mathur, UltraViolet Devices, Inc.
Dan Spicer, Light Sources Inc.
Hadas Mamane, Tel Aviv University
John Maiyo, The University of Memphis
Mengkai Li, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

With rapid advancements in UV technology, IUVA volunteers have established over 10 working groups to help address how UV technology may help address public health and environmental concerns.

2023 IUVA Scholarship Award Winners

Michael CreativeDG — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 21:11:36 GMT

The IUVA Young Professionals Committee is proud to announce the winners of the 2023 IUVA Scholarship awards. The purpose of the IUVA scholarship program is to aid in the nurturing and growth of the next generation of UV industry leaders---with undergraduate and graduate students encouraged to apply.

2023 IUVA Scholarship Winners

Loris Busch, Center of Experimental and Applied Cutaneous Physiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Loris is a PhD student in the field of skin physiology and pharmaceutical technology. His PhD thesis combines the fields of pharmacy and medicine with aspects of chemistry, physics and biology. He is currently working on the application of UVA LEDs for targeted drug release from nanocarriers for the disinfection of hair follicles. His approach combines the use of far-UVC LED systems which are used for skin surface disinfection, and his goal is to pave the way for improved surgical disinfection and wound antisepsis without provoking the development of multi-resistant pathogens.

Isobel DeMont, Centre for Water Resources Studies at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada

Isobel is a PhD student focusing on UV-LED-based advanced oxidation processes in drinking water treatment, specifically UV-LED/Chlorine. Isobel’s goal is to assist drinking water utilities experiencing challenges due to emerging climate-driven pollutants, such as taste and odor compounds and cyanotoxins. Further, Isobel is passionate about sustainability in engineering and hopes her work with UV-LEDs will help push the drinking water industry towards more energy efficient designs.

Daniel Ma, The Ohio State University

Daniel Ma is currently a PhD candidate in Civil Engineering (expected May '24) at The Ohio State University advised by Dr. Natalie Hull. Daniel's current research focuses on optimizing UV wavelengths to enhance disinfection and suppress bacterial DNA repair and developing alternative energy UV disinfection technology for off-grid applications. The goal of his research is to promote access to safe water for people living in rural and remote communities.

Each scholarship winner receives a $5,000 cash award, plus a travel stipend to join us at the IUVA 2023 World Congress.

Please join us to celebrate our award winners at the upcoming IUVA World Congress, September 10-13, 2023, InterContinental Dubai - Festival City in Dubai, U.A.E. The event program is posted and registration is now open for the event.

IUVA Announces New Pharma Industry Task Force Focused on Disinfection

Michael CreativeDG — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 01:02:29 GMT

The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA), has created a new Task Force dedicated to UV Disinfection of Surfaces in Pharma Industry Cleanroom Environments.

UV light is an established alternative to chemical disinfection, and this group will help facilitate ongoing discussions within the Pharma industry to share knowledge, industry proposals, research data, and pilot results. The IUVA Task Force plans to assemble a comprehensive summary of the current state-of-knowledge related to UV use in Pharma for clean room applications as a replacement for chemical disinfectants. This document will then serve as a starting point for further work and define research and regulatory priorities.

Learn more about UV technologies and IUVA at the 2023 IUVA World Congress, September 10-13, in Dubai. The event features technical presentations on the latest UV technologies and applications, as well as an exhibition showcasing UV disinfection solutions.

For more information on the New Pharma Industry Task Force, please contact info@iuva.org, in c/o our Task Force Chair, Susan Schmidt, Roche/Genentech.

2023 IUVA Scholarship Application Is Open

Gary Cohen — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 19:32:37 GMT

2023 IUVA SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

Purpose:

To aid in the nurturing and growth of the next generation of UV industry leaders.

Eligibility:

Any undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in an accredited university/college science, technology, engineering, or mathematics program.
A current member of the IUVA in good standing.

Scholarship Awards:

Three, $5,000 Awards

Awards delivered in 2 annual installments of $2,500 each
Includes: A travel stipend to IUVA Regional Conference, IUVA Symposium, or IUVA World Congress, whichever is happening that year, to present their work

APPLY BY MARCH 31

Record-Breaking Attendance at the 2022 IUVA Americas Conference

Gary Cohen — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 19:59:47 GMT

Government, Academia, Industry Meet to Advance UV Technology Through Collaborative Thought Leadership

With more than 260 attendees from over 15 countries, the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) America's Conference presented advancements in technology, research and applications to improve public health and the environment. The event, held in late September in Cincinnati, Ohio, targeted engagement from a wide range of stakeholders. "The IUVA Conference aimed to foster collaboration between government, academia and industry, as we develop technology solutions to address some of our most pressing global concerns in water safety, and ongoing pandemic and public health issues," says Jennifer Osgood, a Senior Vice President at CDM Smith and President of IUVA.

The event offered a practical and instructional workshop on process validation, efficiency, performance and safety of UV applications for water, air, surfaces, and food. Conference presentations included sessions on the emergence and increasing use of UV light emitting diodes (LEDs), case studies on UV implementation, and a special gathering of the IUVA United Nations Clean Water Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Task Force. The event concluded with the IUVA Healthcare Task Force leading a special interactive discussion on the latest trends in germicidal ultraviolet irradiation technologies (GUVI) for healthcare. This discussion featured representatives from the federal government, NGOs, academia and industry--with updates on infectious diseases, and a dialogue on GUVI in the context of looking ahead to the next ten years. The GUVI discussion targeted the need for business, in the ever-changing public health landscape, to connect with NGOs and government agencies for technical and policy advice and assistance.

The event also included strong student representation, with the IUVA America's Jim Bolton Student Awards presented to Nathan Moore, University of Toronto; Karlye Wong, University of Toronto; and Anthony Pimentel, University of Colorado Boulder.

Global Lighting Association and International Ultraviolet Association to co-operate on UV disinfection technology

Gary Cohen — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 18:46:37 GMT

The Global Lighting Association (GLA) and the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) have signed a memorandum of understanding to co-operate on ultraviolet disinfection technology – also known as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, or UVGI.

UVGI air disinfection technology is an established method for reducing infection risks caused by a wide range of contagious airborne diseases such as measles, influenza and tuberculosis. Increasingly it is also recognized as a key tool in reducing the level of indoor air contamination posed by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The memorandum of understanding provides the mechanism for the GLA and IUVA to co-operate in a number of key areas, including:

• joint submissions and other approaches to organizations responsible for establishing ultraviolet disinfection standards and protocols

• joint activities to promote credible information on the application and benefits of UV-C for disinfection of airborne pathogens

• sharing expertise on safety, performance and effectiveness of ultraviolet disinfection technologies

• consultation on health and well-being matters for people in buildings.

GLA Contact:

Bryan Douglas
Secretary General
info@globallightingassociation.org

IUVA contact:

Jennifer Osgood
President IUVA; Senior Vice President, CDM Smith
info@IUVA.org

About the Global Lighting Association

The Global Lighting Association is the voice of the lighting industry on a global basis. GLA shares information on political, scientific, social and environmental issues of relevance to the lighting industry and advocates its position to relevant stakeholders in the international sphere. See www.globallightingassociation.org.

About the International Ultraviolet Association

The mission of the International Ultraviolet Association is to advance the science, engineering & application of ultraviolet technologies to enhance public health, the quality of human life & to protect the environment through education, research, collaboration and advocacy. IUVA has over 500 members in more than 40 countries.

Advancing the Utilization of Germicidal UVC in Food Processing (November 2, 2021)

Gary Cohen — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 16:00:00 GMT

November 2, 2021 - 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT (Eastern US)

Moderator: Dr. Tatiana Koutchma, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada / Government of Canada

Speakers:

UVC Tunnels and Conveyor Belts, Dr. Danny Bayliss, Campden BRI
Air Treatment in Food Processing Facilities, Dr. Jaromir Bilek, Jenton Group
Water Treatment Solutions to Reduce E Coli and Listeria in Food Applications, Molly McManus, Aquisense Technology

NIST Journal: Special Section on UV Technologies for Public Health

Gary Cohen — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 19:35:59 GMT

Interest in ultraviolet-C (UV-C) irradiation as a strategy for decontaminating surfaces in the health care environment has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. But with a lack of standards and regulations surrounding the technology’s implementation, consistent safety and efficacy is no guarantee. In response to the growing need for guidance, the Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published a Special Section on Ultraviolet Technologies for Public Health in collaboration with the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) following a joint workshop on this critical topic for public health in January 2020.

The open access publications that make up the section describe new applications of UV-C technology and detail methods of characterizing how physical and biological materials respond to UV radiation — necessary information for establishing UV standards. Several of these standards are now under development as the result of industry collaborative efforts between IUVA and the Illuminating Engineering Society.

The lineup of papers in this section spans microorganism sensitivity to UV-C, decontamination of N95 respirators and other personal protective equipment, UV-C doses produced by different light sources, and several other critical topics. Additional publications will be added to this section later this year.

The data and protocols provided here represent a valuable resource for researchers in health care and the UV industry and lay critical groundwork toward standardization of UV technologies.

Visit the Journal of Research of NIST to explore the special section.

Far UV-C Radiation: Current State-of Knowledge

Gary Cohen — Fri, 14 May 2021 15:41:01 GMT

The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) has released a white paper titled "Far UV-C Radiation: Current State-of Knowledge," which is a scientific review of Far UV-C technology and the state of the art research featuring key conclusions made through analysis of published literature and collation of expert knowledge.

Download the White Paper

In addition, the IUVA Far UV-C Task Force will hold a webinar on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT to discuss the white paper. Please see details about the webinar along with registration information here.

Learn more about the IUVA efforts to support the global fight against Covid-19 at https://iuva.org/iuva-covid-19-faq.

Innovative Approaches for Validation of Ultraviolet Disinfection Reactors for Drinking Water Systems

Gary Cohen — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 02:36:06 GMT

Public water systems (PWSs) implement ultraviolet (UV) disinfection for the inactivation of regulated pathogens in accordance with the requirements of the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR) and the Ground Water Rule (GWR), and the guidance provided by the Ultraviolet Disinfection Guidance Manual (UVDGM). Since the UVDGM was published in 2006, there has been considerable advancement in the understanding and application of UV technologies, particularly in the area of UV dose monitoring and validation. This documentation presents new approaches and procedures for monitoring and validation that leverage these advances. The contents of this document meet the requirements of the LT2ESWTR and conform to the underlying principles of the UVDGM. These additional approaches and recommendations are presented for consideration when applying UV disinfection for the inactivation of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and viruses. The beneficiaries for this document include UV system manufacturers, validators, consultants, utilities, and regulators. Detailed information is presented on designing test plans, conducting evaluations, and reporting of results associated with four new UV calculated dose monitoring approaches. These methods and procedures may provide utilities with more cost-effective and robust implementation of UV disinfection. In addition, checklists and validation report outlines are presented to aid Regulators in approving systems. This document also provides recommendations on general procedures and reference documentation that support approaches currently being used but not documented in the UVDGM for validating and operating a UV system.

Read More >>

UV Industry Associations Discourage the use of UV Light on the Human Body to Disinfect Against the Coronavirus

Gary Cohen — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 18:15:01 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Gary Cohen, 240-497-1242, gcohen@iuva.org

Chevy Chase, MD (April 24, 2020) Recent reports suggest that ultraviolet (UV) light can be used on the human body to disinfect against the coronavirus. The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) and RadTech North America are educational and advocacy organizations consisting of UV equipment vendors, scientists, engineers, consultants, and members of the medical profession. We would like to inform the public that there are no protocols to advise or to permit the safe use of UV light directly on the human body at the wavelengths and exposures proven to efficiently kill viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. UV light under the conditions known to kill such viruses can cause severe skin burns, skin cancer, and eye damage. There is information that a specific type of UV light, sometimes called “far UV-C” (at wavelengths from 200 - 225 nm) can disinfect viruses without damaging skin and eyes, but this information is considered to be preliminary and there are no protocols to ensure that it is applied effectively and safely. We strongly recommend that anyone using UV light to disinfect medical equipment, surfaces, or air in the context of COVID-19, applications that are supported by sound scientific evidence, follow all recommended health and safety precautions and to avoid direct exposure of the body to the UV light.

Additional Information on UV Technology for Disinfection

The ultraviolet spectrum is a band of electromagnetic radiation at higher energies than visible light, split into four major categories: UV-A (400 – 315 nm), UV-B (315 – 280 nm), UV-C (280 – 200 nm), and vacuum-UV (VUV, 100 – 200 nm). UV-A and UV-B are present in sunlight at the earth’s surface; these parts of the ultraviolet spectrum are common causes of sunburn and, with longer-term exposure, melanoma. The risks of human exposure to UV-A and UV-B are well known. Solar UV may be used for disinfection purposes; exposures in the order of several hours to days might be effective at treating surfaces and water. Artificial sources of UV-A and UV-B are not commonly used for disinfection.

UV-C has been used for disinfection for over a century, with applications in water treatment, air systems, and surfaces. The use of UV-C as a disinfectant is supported by decades of scientific research. UV-C radiation is absorbed by DNA and RNA (the genetic code for all lifeforms), changing its structure. This damage inhibits the ability of the affected cells to reproduce, meaning that they cannot infect and are no longer dangerous. Whereas the UV exposure required to inactivate different microorganisms varies, though there are no known microorganisms that are immune to this treatment and it is regularly used against bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

In the same way that UV-C can inactivate bacteria and viruses, it can be damaging to human cells too, since our cells also contain DNA. This exposure can cause skin irritation, damage to the cornea, and cell mutations leading to cancer. Exposure to UV-C radiation is regulated globally, with a common agreement on the risk to human health and safe exposure levels. These regulations and standards set limits on allowable daily exposure.

In summary:

UV-C irradiation of the skin, eyes, or any body part should be avoided wherever possible.
Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment when handling un-shielded UV-C radiation sources (e.g. long-sleeved clothing, gloves, and a UV-opaque face shield).
Always use UV-C devices in accordance with the manufacturer’s operating instructions to ensure safe operation, and within appropriate enclosures where light leakage has been controlled, and where the risks have been properly managed.
The case for far UV-C light (200 - 225 nm) is less certain. While evidence in the laboratory suggests that it may be safe under some conditions, based primarily on animal studies and not on longitudinal human studies, there is a lack of protocols to govern the safe construction and operation of such devices.

A Note on the Coronavirus/COVID-19

Gary Cohen — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 23:26:43 GMT

(updated February 18, 2020)

All RadTech 2020 and IUVA Americas preparations are proceeding as planned and we look forward to seeing you in Orlando! The traditional number of visitors from China to RadTech and IUVA is very small—so the impact on the event is expected to be minimal.

RadTech and IUVA take the concerns of our members, guests and partners regarding the coronavirus very seriously. In partnership with our hosts at Disney, your safety is always our top priority.

According to the CDC, “for the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low at this time. The U.S. government has taken unprecedented steps with respect to travel in response to the growing public health threat posed by this new coronavirus: Effective February 2, 2020, the U.S. government suspended entry of foreign nationals who have been in China within the past 14 days.”

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html

With these restrictions the risk of contracting Coronavirus/COVID-19 within conferences in the United States is very low. Visitors subject to this U.S. Government action will not be attending RadTech 2020 or the IUVA Americas events.

We look forward to seeing you in Orlando!!

Healthcare Associated Infections Workshop Advances Development of Ultraviolet Disinfection Technologies

Gary Cohen — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 21:14:06 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Mickey Fortune, 240-643-0517, mfortune@iuva.org

Chevy Chase, MD (January 22, 2020) With over 150 attendees, nearly 20 exhibitors and a highly interactive set of presentations, panels, posters and facility tours, the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST), in partnership with the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA), presented a two day workshop in January 2020 on Ultraviolet Disinfection Technologies & Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs): Defining Standards and Metrology Needs. Dr. Walter Copan, Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Director and Dr. Eric Lin, Director, NIST Material Measurement Laboratory, welcomed attendees and opened the event. The workshop examined technology, measurement, and standards needs as a way to promote further innovation in the development and use of ultraviolet technology for the reduction and prevention of HAIs. HAIs are recognized as an important public health and patient safety issue, and UV technology is considered an effective tool to combat HAIs.

“This Workshop was the second in a series designed to encourage collaboration and consensus-building between researchers, infectious disease physicians, UV disinfection companies and regulators, both in the US and internationally,” says Dr. Richard Martinello, Medical Director, Infection Prevention, Yale New Haven Health. “The goal is to develop UV guidance that will help healthcare providers world-wide choose the best possible technologies for their institutions to use in the fight against multiple drug resistant organisms and other pathogens that cause HAIs.”

The event built on the efforts of the IUVA Healthcare/UV Task Force, dedicated to the development of efficacy guidelines and standards to help advance the adoption and safe use of UV technologies. “It was exciting to discuss ways to validate the efficacy of UV technology with the largest group of equipment suppliers to the HAI market gathered in one place,” says Oliver Lawal, IUVA Immediate Past President, and President and CEO of AquiSense Technologies. “The IUVA looks forward to publishing the first outcomes of common guidelines for the use of this critical life-saving technology in healthcare environments.”

The IUVA Healthcare/UV Task Force is planning a follow up panel discussion and technical sessions at the 2020 IUVA Americas Conference, March 9-11, 2020 in Orlando, Florida.

For more information on the IUVA Task Force, please contact Troy Cowan, troy@visionbasedconsulting.us.

For more information on IUVA and the IUVA Americas Conference, please contact Mickey Fortune, mfortune@iuva.org.

IUVA Announces New Leadership

Gary Cohen — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 11:16:32 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Gary Cohen, +1-240-437-4615, gcohen@iuva.org

Chevy Chase, MD (November 20, 2019) The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA), the nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of ultraviolet technologies for industry, public health and the environment, is pleased to welcome Ron Hofmann, Professor at the University of Toronto, as President, serving a two year term. Professor Hofmann assumes the position from Oliver Lawal, President of AquiSense, who is now the Association’s immediate past president. “The IUVA has already demonstrated strong leadership in UV applications in the world of water and wastewater treatment, such as helping to establish universal testing protocols and raising the bar on the level of technical discussion,” says Professor Hofmann. “We are now embarking on an exciting opportunity to apply our expertise to new areas of focus, including the healthcare industry, and food and beverages.”

Jennifer Osgood, Associate, CDM Smith, has been named incoming President of IUVA. “The IUVA continues to achieve our mission of ‘advancing the sciences, engineering & applications of ultraviolet technologies to enhance the quality of life and protect the environment,’” says Ms. Osgood. “Our growing membership, technical and educational outreach, task force initiatives, UV Solutions magazine, conferences and workshops, and young professional interest is helping to drive this success.” The IUVA also elevated two current Board members to new positions in leadership, with the addition of Richard Joshi, Director of Technology and Innovation–UV, atg Evoqua, as the new IUVA Secretary; and Ted Mao, Vice President, Research at Trojan Technologies, as the IUVA co-Vice President of the Americas.

The next IUVA event is the 2020 IUVA Americas Conference and Exhibition, March 8-11 in Orlando, Florida. For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.iuva.org/2020-Americas-Conference.

2nd International Conference on UV LED Technologies & Applications – ICULTA 2020 | Call for Abstracts

Gary Cohen — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 17:54:50 GMT

Press Release: Berlin, June 24, 2019

Two years after the first successful ‘International Conference on UV LED Technologies & Applications (ICULTA)’ the next conference will be held from April 26 to 29, 2020 at the MELIÃ Hotel in Berlin, Germany. Once more, it will bring together pioneers, leaders, and experts from science and industry to discuss latest progress and innovations in the development of UV LEDs and their broad spectrum of applications. The conference is jointly organized by the German consortium Advanced UV for Life and the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA).

UV LEDs produce narrow-band radiation and can be tuned to cover almost the entire ultraviolet spectral range. Their performance characteristics strongly depend on their emission wavelength: the shorter it is the higher are the scientific and technical requirements for material development and LED device technology. Applications of the compact sized, eco-friendly, and flexible light sources range from disinfection of water, air, and surfaces to medical diagnostics, plant growth lighting, and curing of various materials.

ICULTA 2020 offers an international platform for experts in UV LED technology and applications, inviting them to be part of the conference as speaker, attendee, exhibitor, and/or sponsor.

Submission deadline for oral and poster presentation abstracts: November 30, 2019

Conference topics include:

UV LED Technology

Epitaxy
Chip Technology
Packaging
LED Modules & Luminaires

UV LED Applications

Disinfection
Water Treatment
Sensing & Analytics
Life Sciences
Horticulture

Medical Applications
Curing
3D Printing
New Applications
Regulations & Standardization

Visit the conference website www.ICULTA.com for further information.

Advanced UV for Life is a consortium of 49 German industrial and academic partners working together in the development and application of UV LEDs. The consortium originates from a research program funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

www.advanced-uv.de

The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) is an international organization of UV industry, educators, consultants, utilities, and research professionals, with a mission to make the use of ultraviolet light a leading technology for public health and environmental application.

www.iuva.org

Press pictures are available here for download. All images are copyrighted.

Check out our new webinar: New UV-Based Interventions to Enhance the Food Safety of Fresh Produce

Gary Cohen — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 21:44:25 GMT

Dr. Keith Warriner, University of Guelph, and Dr. Tatiana Koutchma, Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agrifood Canada

January 15, 2019

There have been three outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections linked to contaminated romaine lettuce within the last 12 months affecting over 200 people. Since 1995 there have been over 40 outbreaks linked to leafy greens although other produce types such as apples, cantaloupes and soft fruit have also been implicated. There are various routes from production through to the end-user by which pathogens become associated with fresh produce. For large scale outbreaks the typical source of pathogens is contaminated irrigation water with pathogens being spread during post-harvest processing. To date, the main interventions used to enhance the microbiological safety of fresh produce is through good agricultural practice (GAP), testing and post-harvest washing. However, none are effective as demonstrated by the on-going foodborne illness outbreaks. Consequently more effective treatments are required and those based on UV show promise. For example, UV treatment of irrigation water and water-assisted UV post-harvest washing is a further technology. The main challenge with UV is to access the shaded area on produce surfaces. To overcome this limitation, UV based methods based on Advanced Oxidative Process have been developed and currently being applied on a commercial scale. Additionally, research was conducted on application of multiple wavelengths LEDs against common food pathogens on surface of fresh produce. Based on risk analysis of recent outbreaks and produce production chain, this webinar will discuss new approaches to enhance it safety by using UV light through advanced oxidation, water assisted washing and UV LED interventions.

UV-Based Interventions for Food Safety recording (Requires Flash)

New UV-Based Interventions to Enhance the Food Safety of Fresh Produce

Gary Cohen — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 21:04:31 GMT

We invite you to attend a free webinar that IUVA is presenting in conjunction with SUNY-ESF on Tuesday, January 15.

New UV-Based Interventions to Enhance the Food Safety of Fresh Produce
Tuesday, January 15, 2019, 02:00 PM EST - 03:00 PM EST

Presented by IUVA, Keith Warriner, Professor and Department of Food Science Graduate Coordinator, University of Guelph, and Tatiana Koutchma, Research Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

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Webinar Details:

IUVA Launches Food and Beverage Safety Initiative

Gary Cohen — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 21:43:22 GMT

Chevy Chase, MD (November 12, 2018) The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) is forming a global working group to support the research and commercialization of ultraviolet (UV) technology for food growth, production, and transport applications from seed to stomach, as well as UV utilization for tea, milk products, and cold-pressed juice preservation. Industry and government experts Peter Gordon and Tatiana Koutchma will serve as co-leaders of the “UV Solutions for Food and Beverage Safety” working group initiative. The group will endeavor to proactively respond to continued public health concerns about dangerous foodborne disease outbreaks while supporting farm and processing plant worker safety and consumer protection requirements.

“Our group will explore global regulations related to UV for food and beverage safety; validation of shelf life extension and spoilage avoidance methods and approaches; and optimization of germicidal configurations. We will also look at market opportunities for UV LEDs in cannabis production and vertical farming,” explains Peter Gordon.

“We are very excited to draw upon existing global IUVA members from government research labs, academia, equipment suppliers and early adopter users, to make up the core participants. Additionally, we extend an open invitation to all interested parties to join with us in this critical human and environmental health effort," adds Oliver Lawal, President of IUVA.

The IUVA UV Solutions for Food and Beverage Safety Working Group is currently developing educational sessions for the upcoming 2019 IUVA World Congress in Sydney, Australia and the BIG IDEAS for UV+EB Technology Conference in Redondo Beach, California.

UV is a proven technology, offering an economically-sound, effective, and versatile, non-toxic, non-chemical, non-thermal process technology. Acceptance of UV as a germicidal agent has become more critical as antibiotic-resistant bacteria and mounting global pressures on the environment, stress safe food and sufficient clean water supplies.

IUVA’s mission is to advance the science, engineering, marketing, and applications of ultraviolet disinfection technologies to enhance the quality of human life and to protect the environment. Founded in 1999, IUVA is a 501(c)3 educational association of more than 500 members in 35 countries. IUVA is recognized as the leading knowledge base and voice for UV technologies through its various conferences, publications, and programs.

Reviewing UV Validation Test Reports

Gary Cohen — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 21:33:25 GMT

A workshop hosted by the International UV Association
August 27, 2018 - 1:00-5:00 PM
Cincinnati Marriott at River Center

The IUVA is partnering with ASDWA, Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, to present training on reviewing UV validation reports on the afternoon prior to the ORD Small System Workshop in Cincinnati, 1:00 - 5:00 pm on Monday, August 27. The training will be at the Marriott River Center, the host hotel for the ORD workshop. This training is exclusively for states and requires a separate registration. For more information visit https://www.asdwa.org/event/reviewing-uv-validation-test-reports-workshop/

Taming the Wild West: Innovative Approaches to Combat Healthcare-Associated Infections using Efficacy Standards Developed through Industry and Federal Collaboration

Gary Cohen — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 22:29:36 GMT

Imagine a world where healthcare-associated infections are just a concern of the past. It could happen, but unfortunately today that is not the case. Nation-wide, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) infect one in every 25 hospital patients, account for more than 99,000 deaths and increase medical costs by more than $35B, each year. Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) antimicrobial devices are shown to reduce the incidence of many of these HAIs by 35% or more, through the deactivation of the pathogen’s DNA chain by irradiating it with a wavelength of ~254 nm. Recently, automated UV-C-emitting devices have been shown to decrease the bioburden of important pathogens in hospital rooms (Anderson et al., 2013). The irradiation effectively prevents the cells from multiplying. Such DNA damage can result in a permanent arrest of DNA replication and/or transcription, which leads to cell death (Friedberg, 2001). Clinical case reductions of 30-70% in Clostridium difficile (C. diff.) have been reported with similar results for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and others. The methodology works. But, the adoption of UV-C technology by the healthcare industry has been sporadic, largely due to confusion, the lack of definitive knowledge and uniform performance standards or measures for efficacy to help healthcare managers make informed, credible investment decisions. Therefore, maintaining the status quo seems to be the most effective and safest investment approach. However, the leveling of the playing field with scientifically certifiable data of the efficacy of antimicrobial devices will enhance acceptance by the healthcare industry and public, at large, as well as facilitate science-based decision making.

The International Ultra Violet Association (IUVA) and its member companies feel it is incumbent upon them to recognize this knowledge and metrology gap – and act. IUVA is also exploring ways to reduce these “wild” inharmonious market conditions, while developing science-based answers to the healthcare industry’s questions surrounding standards and measures of device disinfection efficacy, as well as reliability, operations and durability.

The overall confusion stems from several reasons. The first and foremost is that there are more than 40 manufacturers of “ultraviolet (UV) sterilizers” producing products, which include all types of designs for: air, water and surface sterilization, and there are at least 12 manufacturers of at least that many antimicrobial devices. Depending upon the model and design the UV-C light sources, each can differ greatly in spectral bandwidth and power outputs. Instrument comparisons are difficult, if not impossible, and no standardized testing procedures are in place to compare or measure the performance of these devices.

The lack of regulation and standards has also allowed each of the 40+ companies to develop their own unique testing and evaluation programs, often using different pathogens, concentrations, testing methodologies and more importantly efficacy criteria. The over abiding result is that there is no clear-cut means for comparison of one unit against another, thus often allowing cost to be the deciding factor for an administrator. But, is that the proper metric? Is advertising and marketing more important than independent-based research for the health of the patients? But, what of the patient’s needs? Clearly lawsuits have occurred between competing companies contesting various performance and operational claims. Past experience has shown that it is necessary to measure the proper performance parameters and justify these measurements with data and not just claims. This “wild-west” mentality in the healthcare market must be corralled so that the market can successfully grow, before something occurs that ruins the industry, for all involved.

As stated above, the IUVA has begun an effort to develop answers to the healthcare industry’s questions surrounding standards and measures of device disinfection efficacy. Standards development activities have proven to have a pronounced effect on product development and the success of businesses in the marketplace. Implementing standards and science-based metrology to ensure product compliance, and other requirements for trade, have been met has been shown to streamline manufacturing processes and trim costs which then leads to increased market share and an improved bottom line.

The development of UV light measurements and standards is critically needed to grow and expand UV technology in all phases of disinfection. Industry wide collaboration and cooperation is needed. The first step is to identify the main needs and then determine positive solutions. It is clear that consensus-based measurements and standards are needed in the UV technology sector; they are infrastructural and typically, if designed properly, pose no competitive advantage to one single company. Companies can openly and readily cooperate together at that level. Once the required solutions are identified to address the infrastructural measurement and standards needed, the solutions can be taken back “behind the curtain” and developed and applied to proprietary processes throughout the industry at the discretion of individual companies. This approach has been extremely successful for the semiconductor and other industries and can be readily applied to the UV industry.

These issues were recently discussed at the IUVA 2018 America’s Conference in Redondo Beach, CA in several HAI panels. An output of the HAI panels was the formation of a formal IUVA Working Group for the Development of Antimicrobial Standards and Initiatives for the Healthcare Industry. The goal is to provide global guidance, with specific programs and deliverables, on the use of UV technologies and standards to combat HAIs and to further the stated aims of the IUVA on its outreach to the healthcare industry.

The working group will develop a set of standards, guidelines and guidance documents related to healthcare applications that include standard methods for validating performance of UV devices and test guidelines for efficacy measurements, as well as discussing the development of a UV roadmap for overall healthcare to include outlines of issues, problems, potential solutions and needs for the future growth and success of the UV industry in healthcare application space.

Fundamental change can be effected through a path of advancing UV efficacy standards and testing protocols to demonstrate UV’s advantages while advocating its increased implementation through education and outreach programs targeting the Nation’s healthcare sector.

Comparing and optimizing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems use for patient room terminal disinfection: an exploratory study using radiometry and commercial test cards

Gary Cohen — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 23:32:57 GMT

Background

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems are gaining popularity, however objective comparisons of their characteristics are lacking. While environmental cultures and reduction of hospital-associated infections rates are excellent study endpoints, they are impractical for centers with limited resources who want to compare or optimize UVGI systems use.

Methods

We evaluated radiometry and commercial test cards, two simple and low cost tools, to compare 2 full size UVGI systems (Tru-D and Optimum-UV Enlight) and 2 small units (Lumalier EDU 435 and MRSA-UV Turbo-UV).

Results

Radiometry-derived output curves show that if both large devices emit enough energy to reach C. difficile lethal doses at 10 ft, the reduction in output in distance is almost perfectly logarithmic. In a patient room environment, Enlight and Tru-D performed similarly when compared using radiometry and commercial test cards. The two small devices reached C. difficile range around the bathroom with the device raised above the floor, but longer times are needed.

Conclusions

Despite different workflows and price points, no clear superiority emerges between Tru-D and Enlight. Bathroom disinfection should be dealt with separately from the main room and small, cheaper units can be used. Radiometry and commercial test cards are promising ways to compare UVGI systems, but further validation is needed using correlation with environmental cultures.

The Full Report: Comparing and optimizing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems use for patient room terminal disinfection: an exploratory study using radiometry and commercial test cards

NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR COMBATING ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANT BACTERIA

Gary Cohen — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 23:40:24 GMT

Vision: The United States will work domestically and internationally to prevent, detect, and control illness and death related to infections caused by antibiotic- resistant bacteria by implementing measures to mitigate the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance and ensuring the continued availability of therapeutics for the treatment of bacterial infections.

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Deployment of a touchless ultraviolet light robot for terminal room disinfection: The importance of audit and feedback

Gary Cohen — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 23:36:58 GMT

Terminal disinfection with ultraviolet device in Clostridium difficile rooms.
Compliance improved from 20% to 100% during a 25 month study.
Audit and feedback utilized to drive compliance of ultraviolet disinfection.

Touchless ultraviolet disinfection (UVD) devices effectively reduce the bioburden of epidemiologically relevant pathogens, including Clostridium difficile. During a 25-month implementation period, UVD devices were deployed facilitywide for the terminal disinfection of rooms that housed a patient who tested positive for C difficile. The deployment was performed with structured education, audit and feedback, and resulted in a multidisciplinary practice change that maximized the UVD capture rate from 20% to 100%.

More information: Deployment of a touchless ultraviolet light robot for terminal room disinfection: The importance of audit and feedback