Lighting apparatus

1. A phosphor lighting apparatus comprising:

(a) a first element that emits light consisting of a peak emission wavelength between 412 nm and 415 nm,

wherein the first element consists of a light emitting diode (LED),

wherein the first element emits light with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of up to 10 nm,

wherein the light emitted by the first element comprises a lower FWHM wavelength that is above 405 nm; and,

(b) a second element comprising phosphors that output and/or convert at least a portion of the light emitted by the first element;

wherein the light output from the phosphor lighting device comprises light emitted from the first element and light emitted from the phosphors;

wherein the phosphor lighting apparatus comprises only one LED; and

wherein the phosphor lighting apparatus is effective in bacterial, fungal, and viral disinfection while having a less harmful effect on mammalian cells than light emitted from an LED having a lower FWHM that is at or below 405 nm.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second element emits light comprising longer wavelengths than the peak emission wavelength of the first element.

3. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second element comprises phosphors for absorbing light from the first element and emitting light at longer wavelengths than the absorbed light.

4. The lighting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the phosphors comprise a yellow phosphor.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second element comprises one or more color converting materials selected from the group consisting of: nitride and/or oxynitride; YAG phosphor, zinc sulfide, zinc selenide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, cadmium telluride and combinations thereof.

6. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second elements comprises an optical filter for controlling the bandwidth of the emitted light and/or for filtering actinic radiation emitted from the first element.

7. The lighting apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the actinic radiation filter is configured to receive light emitted from the first and second elements; and

transmit actinic radiation filtered light for outputting by the lighting apparatus.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein substantially all of the optical output power of the lighting apparatus corresponds to wavelengths above 400 nm.

9. The lighting apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the combined output of the first element and the second element is white or a shade of white light.

10. A method for bacterial, fungal, and viral disinfection, comprising:

illuminating a target surface or area with a phosphor lighting apparatus comprising:

(a) a first element that emits light consisting of a peak emission wavelength between 412 nm and 415 nm,

wherein the first element comprises a light emitting diode (LED),

wherein the first element emits light with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of up to 10 nm,

wherein the light emitted by the first element comprises a lower FWHM wavelength that is above 405 nm; and,

(b) a second element comprising phosphors that output and/or convert at least a portion of the light emitted by the first element;

wherein the light output from the phosphor lighting device comprises light emitted from the first element and light emitted from the phosphors;

wherein the phosphor lighting apparatus comprises only one LED; and

wherein the phosphor lighting apparatus is effective in bacterial, fungal, and viral disinfection while having a less harmful effect on mammalian cells than light emitted from an LED having a lower FWHM that is at or below 405 nm.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second element emits light comprising longer wavelengths than the peak emission wavelength of the first element.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second element comprises a material applied upon the first element.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second element comprises phosphors for absorbing light from the first element and emitting light at longer wavelengths than the absorbed light.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the phosphors comprise a yellow phosphor.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second element comprises one or more color converting materials selected from the group consisting of: nitride and/or oxynitride; YAG phosphor, zinc sulfide, zinc selenide, cadmium sulfide, cadmium selenide, cadmium telluride and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the second elements comprises an optical filter for controlling the bandwidth of the emitted light and/or for filtering actinic radiation emitted from the first element.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the actinic radiation filter is configured to receive light emitted from the first and second elements; and

transmit actinic radiation filtered light for outputting by the lighting apparatus.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein substantially all of the optical output power of the lighting apparatus corresponds to wavelengths above 400 nm.

19. The method of claim 10 , wherein the combined output of the first element and the second element is white or a shade of white light.

20. A method for limiting the growth of bacteria, fungi and viruses comprising illuminating a target surface or area with a lighting device comprising:

(a) a first LED that emits light consisting of a peak emission wavelength between 412 nm and 415 nm,

wherein the first element emits light with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of up to 10 nm,

wherein the light emitted by the first element comprises a lower FWHM wavelength that is above 405 nm; and,

(b) a second LED that emits light in a wavelength region above 420 nm,

wherein the lighting device comprises only two LEDs; and

wherein the lighting device is effective in limiting the growth of bacteria, fungi and viruses while having a less harmful effect on mammalian cells than light emitted from an LED having a lower FWHM that is at or below 405 nm.