Fluence (UV Dose) Required to Achieve
Incremental Log Inactivation of
Bacteria, Protozoa, Viruses and Algae
Revised, updated and expanded by
Adel Haji Malayeri
1
, Madjid Mohseni
1
, Bill Cairns
2*
and James R. Bolton
3*
With earlier contributions by
Gabriel Chevrefils (2006)
4
and Eric Caron (2006)
4
With peer review by
Benoit Barbeau
4
, Harold Wright (1999)
5
and Karl G. Linden
6
1. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2. Trojan Technologies, London, ON, Canada
3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
4. Chaire Industrielle-CRSNG en Eau Potable, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
5. Carollo Engineers, Boise, ID
6. Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado-Boulder
Introduction
Revision history
This paper represents the second revision of a compilation
that goes back to 1999. The original compilation (Wright and
Sakamoto 1999) was an internal document of Trojan Technol-
ogies. The first revision was published in 2006 (Chevrefils et
al. 2006). Data from the previous reviews have been included
here. In addition, data from the past 10 years have been added
and a new table for algae has been added. Two other reviews
of the UV sensitivity of microorganisms have been published
(Hijnen et al. 2006; Coohill and Sagripanti 2008).
Brief description and selection criteria
for content of the tables
Tables 1-5 (only available in the downloaded magazine
version) present a summary of published data on the ultra-
violet (UV) fluence-response data for various microorgan-
isms that are pathogens, indicators or organisms encountered
in the application, testing of performance, and validation of
UV disinfection technologies. The tables reflect the state of
knowledge but include the variation in technique and biolog-
ical response that currently exists in the absence of standard-
ized protocols. Users of the data for their own purposes are
advised to exercise critical judgment in how they use the data.
In most cases, the data are generated from low-pressure (LP)
monochromatic mercury arc lamp sources for which the
lamp fluence rate (irradiance) can be measured empirically
and multiplied by exposure time (in seconds) to obtain an
incident fluence onto the sample being irradiated; however,
earlier data do not always contain the correction factors that
are now considered standard practice (Bolton and Linden
2003; Bolton et al. 2015a) in order to determine the average
fluence delivered to the microorganisms within the irradi-
ated sample. Such uncorrected data are marked and should
be considered as upper limits, since the necessary correc-
tions have not been made. Some data are from polychro-
matic medium pressure (MP) mercury arc lamps, and in
some cases both lamp types are used. In a few cases, filtered
polychromatic UV light is used to achieve a narrow band of
irradiation around 254 nm. These studies are also designated
as LP.
None of the data incorporate any impact of photorepair
processes. Only the response to the inactivating fluence
is documented. The references from which the data are
abstracted must be carefully read to understand how the
reported fluences are calculated and what the assumptions
and procedures are in the calculations.
It is the intention of the authors and sponsors to keep this
table dynamic, with periodic updates. Recommendations
for inclusion in the tables, along with the reference source,
should be sent to:
Dr. Bill Cairns, chief scientist
Trojan Technologies Inc.
3020 Gore Road
London, ON, Canada N5V 4T7
Email:
Prof. James R. Bolton
Department of Civil and
Environmental Engineering
Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2W2
Email:
The selection criteria for inclusion are recommended as
follows: