Experiment 2 - The Effects of Ultraviolet Light (UVC) on Bacteria

Research: Scientific research states that ultraviolet light has germicidal properties. The most effective wavelength is 254 nanometers (nm), also known as UVC. Scientific studies show that UVC light acts within minutes to prevent the growth of bacteria. Objective: The purpose for this experiment was to determine whether or not UVC light at 254 nm is effective in preventing the growth of bacteria. Based on the results from this experiment, we would decide if UVC light is a viable solution for our community problem. Hypothesis: If bacteria are exposed to UVC light, their growth will be significantly reduced. To prove the hypothesis valid, the bacteria would have a 25% reduction in the number of colonies when compared to the control group. Materials: Petri dishes 3 per surface nutrient agar sterile cotton swabs disposable gloves Procedure: 1. Prepare Petri dishes with nutrient agar. 2. Use 3 Petri dishes, or plates, for each surface. 3. Label each plate with the date, type of agar, surface, and UV exposure time of 0, 15, or 30 minutes. 4. Swab surface and inoculate the plates by streaking the contaminated swab across the agar. Remember to use a new swab for each plate. 5. Seal plate labeled 0 minutes with tape and set aside. This is the control. 6. Place the 2nd and 3rd inoculated plates of each surface 15 inches from the UV light source and treat them for 15 min. and 30 min., respectively. 7. Seal treated plates with tape after their designated UV exposure time. 8. Place all inoculated plates in incubator for 48 hours at 93F. 9. Observe, count, and record number of bacterial colonies on each plate every 12 hours. 10. Analyze and graph results. 11. Properly dispose of inoculated plates. marker tape timer UV-blocking safety glasses UV light source (254nm) incubator thermometer colony counting grid

Results: We performed three trials of this experiment. We collected samples from the same four surfaces for each trial. Remarkably, there was a 100% reduction in bacterial growth after 15 minutes. We averaged the colony counts for each surface and charted them below.

Table

12 hrs Control 12 15 min. 0 30 min. 0

24 hrs 29 0 0

36 hrs 69 0 0

48 hrs 132 0 0

Marker 12 hrs Control 3 15 min. 0 30 min. 0

24 hrs 8 0 0

36 hrs 16 0 0

48 hrs 41 0 0

Mouse

12 hrs Control 7 15 min. 0 30 min. 0

24 hrs 17 0 0

36 hrs 46 0 0

48 hrs 87 0 0

Book

12 hrs Control 1 15 min. 0 30 min. 0

24 hrs 4 0 0

36 hrs 13 0 0

48 hrs 25 0 0

Sample Photographs from Trial 2

Conclusions: The data supported our hypothesis; when bacteria are exposed to UV light, their growth is prevented or significantly reduced. Based on these results, we will use UVC light in our solution to reduce harmful microbes in classrooms. Since there was no growth of bacteria after 15 minutes, we will conduct more experiments to pinpoint the duration needed to prevent the growth of bacteria.