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

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.

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. 

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

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

REGISTER NOW

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

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.

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.

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 >>

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.

(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!!

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.