Page 30 - GHES-2-1

Global Health Econ Sustain Global South: Healthier lives with UVC

fact, the 2013 Minamata Convention, a United Nations scale water disinfection (Ma et al., 2022). A systematic
Environmental Program, stated their global position on review of conventional and emerging water disinfection
the mining and usage of mercury, calling for a significant technologies also found UVC LED irradiation to have
reduction or elimination of mercury-containing products more accessible operational parameters and installation
by 2020. However, low- and medium-pressure lamps and a shorter contact time needed for disinfection than
are exempt from this planned phase-out only “where no other methods (Lanrewaju et al., 2022).
feasible mercury-free alternatives for replacement are
available.” This convention has paved the way for innovative 3.4. Socioeconomic impact of UVC LED technology
technologies like UVC LED (Juarez-Leon et al., 2020). This 3.4.1. Economic benefits and cost-effectiveness of UVC
has paved the way for the rapid development of UVC LED LED technology
technologies with multiple applications in air, water, and As discussed throughout the review of waterborne
surface disinfection across biomedicine, instrumentation, diseases in the Global South, the associated economic
and purification (Juarez-Leon et al., 2020).
burden is substantial, encompassing healthcare costs, lost
UVC LED for water disinfection addresses some of productivity, and societal impact. UVC LED technology
these concerns by introducing lower energy consumption, offers a long-term cost-effective approach to water
reduced environmental impact, and smaller sizes. In disinfection compared to traditional methods. Despite
addition, UVC LED technology can be directed to any the initial investment in UVC LED infrastructure, the
wavelength to target specific microbes (Gora et al., 2019; operational costs and maintenance requirements are
Nicolau et al., 2022). UVC LEDs also have a longer lifetime relatively low (Pramanik et al., 2020; Ruiz-Díez et al.,
and are more robust than conventional light-source 2023; Wu et al., 2021). The long lifespan of UVC LEDs
disinfection (Nicolau et al., 2022). For instance, it has been contributes to substantial savings over time. Furthermore,
demonstrated that the Klaran LA has over 25,000 projected by preventing waterborne infections and reducing the
lifetime hours (Hafner, 2023). UVC LEDs have also been need for medical treatment, UVC LED technology can
found to be more effective at inactivating antibiotic- alleviate the economic burden on healthcare systems and
resistant genes in surface water, wastewater, and treated communities at large.
water at treatment plants than traditional low-pressure The rapidly developing UVC LED industry considers
lamps (Ghosh et al., 2022).
this methodology a promising strategy for large-scale,
A systematic review of disinfection methodologies energy-efficient water disinfection, particularly in
found that UVC LEDs were at least as effective as vulnerable regions such as the Global South (Martín-
conventional lamps (Nicolau et al., 2022), which other Sómer et al., 2023; Shen et al., 2020). Despite the economic
studies have echoed (Hsu et al., 2021). However, other and health disparities experienced in the Global South,
studies have found UVC LED technology effective at LMIC government-funded healthcare and public health
inactivating antibiotic-resistant Bacillus species and more financing remain low while international donor aid rapidly
energy-efficient than traditional mercury lamps (Shen dwindles (Jakovljevic et al., 2021). Adding to this concern
et al., 2020). In addition, studies have shown that UVC are the continued epidemiological challenges of waterborne
LEDs, with capabilities for higher wavelengths than those disease proliferation related to contaminated water that
achievable through mercury lamps, are more effective at directly impacts economies through increased health-care
reducing Escherichia coli and have longer working lifecycles costs and decreased economic production due to disability
(Hsu et al., 2021; Sholtes & Linden, 2019). or death (Ashbolt, 2004). Addressing upstream social
Chemical agents, including chlorine and chloramines, determinants of health as well as environmental, systemic,
are also used to purify drinking water distribution and political factors related to clean water access can offer
systems. However, this purification process is ineffective significant economic benefits through a preventative
at reducing microbial growth that develops in biofilms approach (Bloom et al., 2018).
between the water source and the point of use and The use of UVC LED technology is a strong option
introduces environmentally toxic disinfection byproducts for addressing many of these upstream factors, allowing
(Ma et al., 2022). At this stage of disinfection, mercury communities and households to locally access clean water
lamps are also ineffective and size-prohibitive due to and reduce the use of potentially harmful boiling methods
the design of water treatment systems. The smaller (Bede-Ojimadu & Orisakwe, 2020; Bloom et al., 2018). UV
footprint, lack of hazardous materials, and selectable LEDs and photovoltaics share semi-conductor technology,
wavelength of UVC LED technology highlight the which makes them natural partners in water treatment
preference for effectiveness and efficiency in large- systems designated for remote, rural, or low-resourced

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 10 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.1984