How does UV radiation affect bacteria?
UV light produces electromagnetic energy that can destroy the ability of microorganisms to reproduce and cause inactivation of microbes by causing mutations and/or cell death.
What are the harmful effects of UV radiation?
Depending on the amount and form of the radiation, as well as on the skin type of the individual exposed, ultraviolet radiation causes erythema, sunburn, photodamage (photoaging), photocarcinogenesis, damage to the eyes, alteration of the immune system of the skin, and chemical hypersensitivity.
How does UV B radiation cause damage to the human body?
Unprotected exposure to UVA and UVB damages the DNA in skin cells, producing genetic defects, or mutations, that can lead to skin cancer (as well as premature aging.) These rays can also cause eye damage, including cataracts and eyelid cancers.
What is UV radiation in microbiology?
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method that uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (ultraviolet C or UV-C) light to kill or inactivate microorganisms by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular functions.
What are the two negative effects of ultraviolet radiation and chlorofluorocarbons?
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and halons destroy the earth’s protective ozone layer, which shields the earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV-B) rays generated from the sun. CFCs and HCFCs also warm the lower atmosphere of the earth, changing global climate.
Which type of UV radiation is most harmful?
UVC rays
UVB rays, which affect skin’s top layer, cause skin cancer and most sunburns. Although UVA and UVB rays pose the greatest risk for sun damage, people who work with welding torches or mercury lamps may be exposed to UVC rays, the most dangerous type of UV radiation.
How does UV light inhibit bacterial growth?
Ultraviolet (UV) light prevent the growth of bacteria by damaging their DNA. Ultraviolet light inactivates bacteria by forming pyrimidine dimers in DNA, which can interfere with transcription and replication.
How does UV light prevent bacterial growth?
In simple terms, when bacteria or another type of microbe is directly exposed to certain types of UV light, the DNA (its fundamental building block) of the cell is damaged, preventing it from replicating. If a cell cannot reproduce, then the cell cannot cause infection, which is how UV light kills bacteria.
Does UV light affect bacterial growth?
Summary Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is known to inhibit cell growth and induce gene damage (1). For these reasons, UV radiation is used as a method to sterilize surgical instruments because it kills the bacteria present and disrupts bacterial reproduction (2).
How does UV radiation stop bacterial growth quizlet?
How does UV light control bacterial growth? By causing irreplaceable levels of damage to the bacterial cell DNA. Thymine-thymine dimmers which in turn disrupts DNA replication.