Comparative effectiveness of UV wavelengths for the inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in water

Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in water were exposed to distinct wavelength bands of collimated beam ultraviolet (UV) radiation across the germicidal UV wavelength range (210-295 nm) that were emitted from a medium pressure (MP) mercury vapour lamp. The dose of UV radiation transmitted though each narrow bandpass filter was measured utilising potassium ferrioxalate actinometry. Oocyst infectivity was determined using a cell culture assay and titre was expressed as an MPN. The log10 inactivation for each band of radiation was determined for a dose of 2 mJ/cm2. Doses from all wavelengths between 250-275 nm resulted in approximately 2 log10 inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst infectivity while doses with wavelengths higher and lower than this range were less effective. Because polychromatic radiation from MP UV lamps had about the same germicidal activity between the wavelengths of 250-275 nm for inactivation of oocyst infectivity, there was no unique advantage of MP UV over low pressure (LP) UV except for the simultaneous delivery of a wide range of germicidal wavelengths.