Sensitivity of Bacteria, Protozoa, Viruses, and Other Microorganisms to Ultraviolet Radiation

Abstract

Data concerning the sensitivity of various organisms to ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure are very important in the design of UV disinfection equipment. This review analyzes fluence data from almost 250 studies and organizes the data into a set of recommended fluence values for specific log reductions and an appendix containing all the collected data. This article was sponsored by Dianne L. Poster, Material Measurement Laboratory, and C. Cameron Miller, Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It is published in collaboration with the International Ultraviolet Association as a complement to the NIST Workshop on Ultraviolet Disinfection Technologies, 14-15 January 2020, Gaithersburg, MD. The views expressed represent those of the authors and not necessarily those of NIST.

Keywords: algae; bacteria; log reduction; protozoa; spores; ultraviolet; ultraviolet radiation; viruses.