Question

There are some light and radiation agents used in Microbiology. A total of five to be exact. Can you identify each agent and its use?

Answer 1

Light and radiation in various forms are widely used in the process of sterilization to kill various pathogens and microorganisms.

Ionization radiation:- These have a short wavelength and high-intensity energy. Ionizing energy ejects orbital electrons of an atom or molecule and creating ions. They have a high penetrating capacity than compared to any other radiation.

Ionizing radiation is of three types

1- Gamma Rays ( High energy ):- Gamma rays have short wavelengths and high penetrance. It utilizes cobalt 60 or cesium 137 radiation to irradicate microorganisms. It has high energy therefore widely used for sterilizing medical devices, Pharmaceutical products. syringes, needles.

2-X-Rays:- It has high penetrance and it propagates in the same direction of the incident electron. The X-rays are generated by bombarding heavy nuclei with high energy electron.

3-Cathode Rays:-These have the least energy and limited penetrance based upon the voltage.

Non-Ionization Radiation

They absorb radiation and raise atoms to higher energy state upon excitation. They have higher wavelength therefore low penetrance

1- UV Rays:- Uv radiation at germicidal wavelength form thymine dimers in the DNA strands and stops the process of replication which leads to the death of the microorganism UV radiation is used to sterilize transparent surfaces of the biosafety. UV rays are also used to disinfect water.