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Global Health Econ Sustain Global South: Healthier lives with UVC

2.2.3. Impact on quality of life

Poor WASH conditions also impact schools,
multigenerational households, and community
organizations (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, NCEZID, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne,
and Environmental Diseases, 2020). Without access to
sanitation facilities or clean drinking water, schools cannot
provide safe environments for children to learn, which
contributes to the increased absenteeism of students who
either personally suffer from diarrheal diseases or must
assume caretaking responsibilities for family members
experiencing disease symptoms. In addition, students
who must take on household responsibilities or enter the
workforce in place of their parents due to losses from
disease also contribute to lower educational attainment Figure 3. Water stream access is often the only source of water for rural
(Bloom et al., 2018). Children who experience moderate community members in Kenya (coordinates: 0.79120°S, 34.82180°E).
to severe diarrheal disease (MSD) are more likely to be Many travel a great distance to access water from this stream, which
malnourished and have growth and developmental delays is considered unsafe for consumption due to widespread source
(Ferdous et al., 2013). Moreover, the estimated impact contamination and the absence of any disinfection mechanism (Maji Safi
UV Organization, 2023).
on the growth and development of children found that
diarrheal diseases contributed to 40,125,700 disability-
adjusted life years among children under 5 years old attainment, workforce absenteeism, and limited career
(Domman et al., 2020). mobility (Bloom et al., 2018; Reid, 2023; WHO, 2022).
Even if morbidity and mortality are limited, the economic
Lack of access to clean water can also adversely loss can be magnified, leaving vulnerable regions with even
affect psychosocial health. Adverse psychosocial health fewer resources to address clean water initiatives (Bloom
outcomes related to poor water access are primarily et al., 2018).
observed in densely populated urban areas, leading to poor
social cohesion, strained social relationships, and lower 3. Principles and applications of UVC LED
social capital for families and communities to moderate technology
the negative effects of stressors of daily living (Adams
et al., 2020). Conventionally, women are responsible Given the extensive burden of waterborne diseases in the
for collecting and providing water for their families and Global South, which affects public health, socioeconomic
livestock and managing WASH. Water collection can development, and quality of life, there is a critical need for
further pose a serious threat to women’s psychosocial robust water disinfection in these regions. Unfortunately,
well-being and is linked to emotional distress, anxiety, and traditional methods for combating these diseases have
depression (Aihara et al., 2015). Individuals also spend significant limitations, leading to the need for alternative
considerable time and effort accessing and collecting water disinfection strategies, such as ultraviolet C light-
clean water, with the most vulnerable spending more than emitting diodes (UVC LEDs).
30 min each day traveling to retrieve their daily water
supply from sources such as springs. Figure 3 shows a small 3.1. Use of UVC LED technology in water disinfection
water stream access point in a rural community in Kenya Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is widely used in water
(coordinates: 0.79120°S, 34.82180°E), which is often the disinfection by direct irradiation and the photoreaction
only water source that many travel a great distance to access (photolysis) of microorganisms. The UV wavelengths
(Maji Safi UV Organization, 2023). This water access is range between X-rays and visible light, covering the range
considered unsafe for consumption because of widespread of 100 – 400 nm, including the major bands labeled as
source contamination and the absence of disinfection vacuum UV (100 – 200 nm), UV-C (200 – 280 nm), UV-B
mechanisms. In addition to the contamination risk, daily (280 – 315 nm), and UV-A (315 – 400 nm) (Dai et al.,
travel to retrieve clean water diminishes productivity 2012). UV light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are a relatively
in all other aspects of life (Reid, 2023; WHO, 2022). The new source of UV light for water treatment and an
long journeys to collect clean water contribute to school alternative to conventional UV mercury lamps (i.e., low-
and workforce absenteeism, leading to poor educational pressure (LP) and medium-pressure (MP) mercury lamps)

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.1984