scrapmek t1_jcmsagb wrote on March 17, 2023 at 11:32 PM Reply to comment by echawkes in If UV radiation is used to disinfect and sterilise things then why isn't everything the sun touches (your skin, the sidewalk etc) sterile? by Critwhoris This is the main difference, there was actually an incident where medical grade UVC bulbs made for sterilizing were accidentally used at an event which caused 'sunburn' and eye damage to the attendees. Many organisms have evolved some resistance to UVA and UVB since it reaches the planets surface, although they can still cause enough damage to have a mild sterilizing effect. Permalink Parent 21
scrapmek t1_jcmsagb wrote
Reply to comment by echawkes in If UV radiation is used to disinfect and sterilise things then why isn't everything the sun touches (your skin, the sidewalk etc) sterile? by Critwhoris
This is the main difference, there was actually an incident where medical grade UVC bulbs made for sterilizing were accidentally used at an event which caused 'sunburn' and eye damage to the attendees.
Many organisms have evolved some resistance to UVA and UVB since it reaches the planets surface, although they can still cause enough damage to have a mild sterilizing effect.