Can UV Light Kill Dust Mites? Yes, Here’s How.
Allergies are not diseases. They are simply the a hyperactive response of the body’s immune system against a threat that it in of itself is harmless in the first place. Allergens are the substances that provoke our immune system’s to react in a misdirected violent way. One of the most common allergens that provoke our immune systems are dust mites. Contrary to popular belief, dust mite allergy is one of the most common allergies in the world according to the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America.
With all of these being said, it is without a doubt disturbing that millions of these microscopic creatures are found in the household. It gets you thinking that with the growing human population reaching up to almost 8 billion. That every single one of this human beings are feeding these creatures about 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells per day. In a single household, there could be a population of about one million to ten million dust mites. This simple fact gets you thinking of ways that could possible lessen the population of these dust mites, which may lead to a lesser human population developing dust mite allergies.
One possible solution is Ultraviolet (UV) light, which makes you think, “Can UV Light Kill Dust Mites?” A study cited in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health states that through the use of UV Lamps it increased dust mite’s mortality rate by up to 100%. However, saying that UV light will kill dust mite infestation does not solve the issue. Tovey, an Allergy Researcher at the University of Sydney suggested that UV light will kill dust mite but it won’t remove the true allergens of dust mite allergy — the fecal matter, secretion, and body parts. Connecting the two ideas, by killing dust mites using ultraviolet light rays there is a possibility you may lessen the allergens produced by dust mites.
Dust mites are part of the arachnids family, they are microscopic, and can be found in about all households in the world. These tiny creatures feed on accumulated flakes of skin of humans that float around the air. Dust mites are relatively harmless to the existence of human beings, their fecal matter and loose body parts are the only things one must look out for because these are what allergists consider as dust mite allergens.
To learn more about this study, click here to proceed to their official website.
The Power of Ultraviolet (UV) light against Dust Mites.
What are Ultraviolet (UV) light in the first place?
Ultraviolet (UV) light have shorter wavelengths than visible lights. To the human eye, these waves are invisible but to insects they can see them. The sun is the most well-known source of ultraviolet radiation. The spectrum of UV is divided into three parts: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UV-B are the rays that cause sunburn when you are under the sun at the beach for a long period of time. Long exposure to UV-B may damage the DNA and other cells of any living organisms. But UV-C radiation is the most harmful but is completely absorbed by the atmosphere.
Click here to find out more at the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) website.
How dangerous is Ultraviolet (UV) light towards Dust Mites?
UV light has been used for sterilization of medical equipment and tools for years; this is also used for water purification systems. So using ultraviolet light to destroy microorganisms such as dust mite is not new. If ever you look for UV sterilization lamps in the market, you will always find them equipped with UV-C light. This type of light is the perfect light that can destroy both the dust mites and its eggs. But destroying their eggs and killing the dust mites won’t make them go away, after doing so, you have to use a powerful vacuum to suck all of them out.
To learn more about using UV light to kill dust mites and other microorganisms, click here to proceed to the Environment, Health, and Safety Online.
Ultraviolet (UV) products to use against Dust Mites.
There are many UV products you can choose from in Amazon to kill dust mites. This article has summarized three of those products.
UV Lamp UV-C Light Build with Ozone
This lamp produces about 185nm wavelength of UV-C Light and contains ozone. This is perfect for bed, sofa, carpet, doghouse, or simple a small room. It has an 8000 hours life span and includes a 5ft cord plug with fixing accessories, and can be installed anywhere. UV-C light is harmful to human beings when exposed for a long time, it was suggested that when this light is on there are no humans nor pets in close proximity to it as it sterilizes. It has a 4.1/5.0 rating on amazon and is an Amazon’s Choice product.
If you are interested in purchasing this product on Amazon, click here to proceed to its official page.
NASKY UV Light Sanitizer Portable Lamp
Unlike the first lamp that was mentioned in this article, this lamp is portable and can be brought anywhere. It contains both sterilization power of Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and ozone sterilization. It has a 99% sterilization rate. It has a USB charging port and can be used effectively for 30 minutes. Comparing it to the firs product, this lamp is effectively suitable for use in wardrobes, cupboard, refrigerator, car interior etc. any place that is small and can easily sanitize a small area.
This product had experienced a lot of negative reviews from buyers mainly focusing on the seller contact and manufacturing. It garnered about a 3.6/5.0 rating on Amazon. What most buyers mentioned about this product is its compactness and portability. If you are interested in purchasing this one, click here to proceed to Amazon.
ALLMOMN Rechargeable UV Sterilizer Light
This product also contains both the power of Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and Ozone. Compared to the other two products, this one has a lover ozone density which produces no smell at all. It has a built-in timer that will automatically turn off when working time reached about fifteen (15) minutes to avoid long time UV ray exposure.
This product is also small and compact which is mainly perfect for sterilizing a small area in the household. These areas may range from the refrigerator, car, bedroom, kitchen, shoe cabinet, washing room, etc. it has a 3.5/5.0 rating on Amazon. To purchase the ALLOMN Rechargeable UV Sterilizer Light, click here to go to Amazon.
Other ways to get rid of Dust Mites.
There are a plethora of ways you can get rid of dust mites without having to spend on expensive UV-C lamps. These dust mites might be microscopic, but it’s easy to look at where the majority of their population is inside the household.
Dust mites love humid places. These little creatures don’t drink water, they simply absorb it through their bodies. Often you will find them on your couch, bed, carpet, pillow, or even under your desk where dust happened to accumulate. Where people in your household hang out most of the time on a daily basis, is the place where you can start to manage to get rid of dust mites.
The American Lung Association suggests to do these four (4) things to possibly reduce your home’s dust mite infestation.
- Reduce Humidity — keep your house at a humidity level of less than 50%. Consider the fact if you also live in a tropical country, where humidity levels are high. If inside the house it is more than 50%, try to use dehumidifiers and air-conditioning to lower the percent level.
- Remove common dust mite homes — as was stated before, dust mites love hanging out in cotton furniture and smooth surfaces. If you don’t need it, eliminate drapes and curtains and go for blinds if necessary.
- Say “NO” to Carpets — it’s hard I know, but carpets are the perfect breeding ground for dust mites. It may add to the aesthetic of your home, but looking at it at a microscopic level you will be faced with millions of dust mites. Yup, not a pretty picture.
- Damp Mop Floors — vacuum cleaners are a good way to help you with your inability to part ways with a carpet but make sure you use highly efficient ones. When dusting use a damp mop or damp cloth. This way you won’t simply shifting the dust from one place to another, you’re really removing it.
The association suggests these methods as a way for you to help manage your home if any of your household members have sever dust mite allergies. To find out more on how to manage it, click here.
Final Thoughts
Dust Mites are technically harmless to human beings. They don’t bite, nor are considered parasites. They’re every existence, which involves their secretions are the main focus that causes allergies to humans. On the long-run, allergies may cause more trouble than you think. Through the use of UV light you can possible lessen the effects of dust mites at home, but make sure you clean it up properly by using a strong vacuum.
To learn more about Dust Mite Allergy and how to prevent it from triggering, click here to proceed to the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America.