In many regions where medical treatment is not of high quality, equipment tends to be reused to save resources, money, and time (“Needle Reuse,” 2013). Needles are common examples of equipment constantly being reused to treat patients. Although it saves time and money, the consequences of doing so is dire. Diseases and infections, such as HIV and
Endocarditis, can occur if these needles are not properly sterilized (“Endocarditis”). These diseases and infections can lead to long-term illness or fatal consequences. With this matter growing ever concerning, different methods were devised to sterilize the needles and syringes.
The most common way practiced by medical facilities today is UV sterilization, the process of cleaning needles …show more content…
It is about “30 to 50 times more prevalent” than the other forms of UV light. But cause very little damage to skin cells (“UVA and UVB”). However, UVA causes the aging of skin cells which later result in wrinkling, skin aging, and in some cases, premature skin cancer (“UVA and UVB”
).
UVB Light The next most common of the UV lights is UVB; “B” stands for burning (“Understanding
UV Radiation”). This type of UV light does not have enough energy to penetrate through the skin to provoke the cells underneath, but it does considerable damage to the surface layer, the epidermis (“UVA and UVB”). It plays the opposite role of UVA light by actively causing skin cancer and contributing to the aging of skin (“UVA and UVB”). However, its intensity and effectiveness differ depending on the area’s “season, location, and time of day,” (“UVA and UVB”
). For example, areas that have snow or water are very likely to bounce UVB rays back to the skin, adding to the damage already being cause by those hitting the skin already. However, its properties, although very damaging, do not allow it to travel or penetrate through glass well (“UVA and UVB”).
UVC …show more content…
Effect of UV Light on Cells
Each of the UV lights have their own unique effect on cells. UVA, for example, does not directly attack the cell’s DNA, whereas UVB does (Goodsell). Because the energy that UVA retains after its penetration of the atmosphere is not strong enough, it is unable to directly affect it (Goodsell). UVB on the other hand retains a strong enough energy to further impact the DNA in cells after going through the atmosphere (Goodsell). UVB directly affects the DNA by attacking the pyrimidine structure in the helix. As a result, bases are changed, covalent bonds are added, or new bonds are formed (Goodsell). The helix undergoes these reactions many times during every second of sunlight exposure or exposure to UVB light. These are read as errors in the DNA helix, and are quickly corrected by the cell through a process called nuclear excision repair. However, this is not always the case. Many times, cells can overlook the “genetic lesions” and leave the damaged DNA in that state. The damage comes later on when the cells replicate their DNA, cloning the wrong pair and essentially forming cancer cells
Endocarditis, can occur if these needles are not properly sterilized (“Endocarditis”). These diseases and infections can lead to long-term illness or fatal consequences. With this matter growing ever concerning, different methods were devised to sterilize the needles and syringes.
The most common way practiced by medical facilities today is UV sterilization, the process of cleaning needles …show more content…
It is about “30 to 50 times more prevalent” than the other forms of UV light. But cause very little damage to skin cells (“UVA and UVB”). However, UVA causes the aging of skin cells which later result in wrinkling, skin aging, and in some cases, premature skin cancer (“UVA and UVB”
).
UVB Light The next most common of the UV lights is UVB; “B” stands for burning (“Understanding
UV Radiation”). This type of UV light does not have enough energy to penetrate through the skin to provoke the cells underneath, but it does considerable damage to the surface layer, the epidermis (“UVA and UVB”). It plays the opposite role of UVA light by actively causing skin cancer and contributing to the aging of skin (“UVA and UVB”). However, its intensity and effectiveness differ depending on the area’s “season, location, and time of day,” (“UVA and UVB”
). For example, areas that have snow or water are very likely to bounce UVB rays back to the skin, adding to the damage already being cause by those hitting the skin already. However, its properties, although very damaging, do not allow it to travel or penetrate through glass well (“UVA and UVB”).
UVC …show more content…
Effect of UV Light on Cells
Each of the UV lights have their own unique effect on cells. UVA, for example, does not directly attack the cell’s DNA, whereas UVB does (Goodsell). Because the energy that UVA retains after its penetration of the atmosphere is not strong enough, it is unable to directly affect it (Goodsell). UVB on the other hand retains a strong enough energy to further impact the DNA in cells after going through the atmosphere (Goodsell). UVB directly affects the DNA by attacking the pyrimidine structure in the helix. As a result, bases are changed, covalent bonds are added, or new bonds are formed (Goodsell). The helix undergoes these reactions many times during every second of sunlight exposure or exposure to UVB light. These are read as errors in the DNA helix, and are quickly corrected by the cell through a process called nuclear excision repair. However, this is not always the case. Many times, cells can overlook the “genetic lesions” and leave the damaged DNA in that state. The damage comes later on when the cells replicate their DNA, cloning the wrong pair and essentially forming cancer cells