Hip
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Standard germicidal UVC ultraviolet light with a wavelength of 254 nm is routinely used to disinfect hospital rooms and toilets when humans are not present, but is not safe to use when people are there, since this light has harmful effects on human skin, and is linked to skin cancer.
However, far UVC ultraviolet light at a slightly shorter wavelength of 222 nm is found to kill pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 with similar efficiently even at very low doses, but potentially without harm to exposed human tissues or eyes. The wavelength of 222 nm is unable to penetrate human skin or eyes, so cannot reach the cells, making it safe potentially.
See this June 2020 paper: Far-UVC light (222 nm) efficiently and safely inactivates airborne human coronaviruses.
The paper shows that low levels of far UVC in a room deactivates 99.9% of airborne coronavirus in 25 minutes.
This 222 nm far UVC light would be very useful in public spaces like bars, restaurants, shops, supermarkets and public transport, to destroy the coronavirus particles floating in the air, if it proves to be as safe as is believed.
Here are some articles on this new way to tackle COVID:
Looks like some 222 nm far UVC coronavirus-killing products are already in the pipeline:
However, far UVC ultraviolet light at a slightly shorter wavelength of 222 nm is found to kill pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 with similar efficiently even at very low doses, but potentially without harm to exposed human tissues or eyes. The wavelength of 222 nm is unable to penetrate human skin or eyes, so cannot reach the cells, making it safe potentially.
See this June 2020 paper: Far-UVC light (222 nm) efficiently and safely inactivates airborne human coronaviruses.
The paper shows that low levels of far UVC in a room deactivates 99.9% of airborne coronavirus in 25 minutes.
This 222 nm far UVC light would be very useful in public spaces like bars, restaurants, shops, supermarkets and public transport, to destroy the coronavirus particles floating in the air, if it proves to be as safe as is believed.
Here are some articles on this new way to tackle COVID:
- The disinfection technology we need right now
- Ultraviolet-emitting chips installed in light fittings could play "a significant role in fighting the pandemic"
- Can far-UVC light kill SARS-CoV-2?
Looks like some 222 nm far UVC coronavirus-killing products are already in the pipeline:
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