THE BACTERICIDAL EFFECT OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION ON ESCHERICHIA COLI IN LIQUID SUSPENSIONS

1. The irradiation of bacteria in liquid suspension has been made possible through: (a) the use of a specially balanced physiological salt solution which is practically non-absorbing for the wave lengths used, and which is of such composition that subsequent dilution of the bacterial suspension gives the proper number of organisms; (b) special design of the exposure cell and a very thorough method of stirring which subjects each organism equally to the radiation; (c) practically complete absorption of the incident radiation, through the use of very dense suspensions, thus eliminating the necessity for a separate determination of the absorption coefficients of the bacteria for the wave lengths used. 2. The method also provides a means for determining the effects of sub-lethal doses. 3. A formula is given for calculating from observed survival ratios the energy required to inactivate bacteria with ultraviolet radiation. The formula corrects for the protective action of non-viable organisms. 4. Data are given for the inactivation of 15 hour and 240 hour cultures of E. coli, washed and unwashed) and for 6–7 hour cultures, unwashed. These data are compared with those of other investigators. 5. A possible explanation for the differences in energy required to inactivate old, young, and standard cultures of bacteria is suggested. 6. The possible mechanism of the action of ultraviolet radiation on microorganisms is discussed.