Scientists have been aware for years that UV light has the ability to eliminate pathogens from surfaces, as well as in the air and in water. UV robots can be used to clean hospitals that are not being used as well as trains and buses and UV lamps within HVAC systems kill the pathogens that are present in air and buildings; as well as ultraviolet lamps eliminate bacteria in water. Maybe you’ve seen UV-lighting wands, UV LEDs and UV air purifiers marketed as silver bullets that protect against coronavirus. In the years of study that has looked into the capability of the UV light to eliminate various pathogens, there is no standards set regarding UV disinfection solutions for the coronavirus. The products could destroy SARS-CoV-2 which is the COVID-19 virus however, they may not.
I’m an environmental engineer who is an specialist in UV disinfection. In May 2021, team and I decided to test the accuracy of various UV devices and determine what was most efficient in killing off or destroying – SARS-CoV-2.
What Is The Process By Which UV Light Kill Viruses?
Light is categorised according to wavelength – the distance between the peak of a light wave that can be determined in nanometers. The wavelengths of UV range from 100-400 nanometers, which is shorter than the violet hues of visible light. These wavelengths appear invisible to our eyes. When wavelengths shrink, the light photons contain greater quantities of energy.
There are different types of UV light are more effective than other wavelengths for destroying virus, and it depends on the degree to which these wavelengths absorb by the virus’s DNA or https://romusa4d.com. If UV light is absorption, the photons from radiation transfer energy and destroy the chemical bonds that make up DNA. It is then in a position to replicate, or even cause an disease. Researchers have also discovered that virus’s proteins used to attach themselves to the host cell to initiate an infection, similar to the coronavirus spike proteins as well as susceptible to ultraviolet radiation.
The amount of light you are exposed to is important as well. Light intensity can be varied Bright lighting is much more intense and it has greater energy when it is dim. When exposed to intense light for just a few minutes period of time may produce similar UV exposure when compared to dim light for a long duration. The key is to identify the dose which will eliminate coronavirus at every UV wavelength.
The Ultraviolet Light Source Is Suitable For Use By People
Traditional UV systems employ the wavelength of around 254 nanometers. These wavelengths of UV light can be harmful to the human eyes and skin, even when doses are low. Sunlight is a source of UV light that falls within those wavelengths. Anyone who’s had the unfortunate experience of getting an unintentional sunburn is aware of the dangers UV light could be.
But, research in the last few years shows that at certain ultraviolet wavelengths, particularly smaller than 230 nanometers, the energy-rich photons are captured by the upper layer of dead cells but don’t reach these active layers from which the damage could occur. In the same way to the tear-film around the eyes block out ultraviolet rays that can cause germicidal damage.
It means that with the wavelengths of UV that are less than the 230 nanometer mark, humans are able to move more easily as the air around them is disinfected in real-time.
Testing Different Wavelengths
My coworkers and I have tested five of the most commonly utilized UV wavelengths to find out the ones that work best in destroying SARS-CoV-2. We specifically, tested what dosage is necessary in order to eliminate 90% – 99.9 percent of the viral particles that are present.
These tests were carried out at a biosafety-level three facility located at the University of Arizona which is designed to deal with dangerous pathogens. The lab tested various light sources throughout the UV spectrum, which included UV LEDs emitting the light between 270 and 282 nanometers. We also tested conventional UV tube lamps with 254 nanometers as well as a brand new technology known as an excitation dimer or excimer. UV source with the nanometer scale of 222.
For testing each device, we injected a small amount from water with millions SARS-CoV-2 virus and then coated the petri dish in an extremely thin layer of the mix. Then we sprayed UV radiation onto the dish until we reached a certain amount. We then examined the virus particles to check whether they still had the ability to infect the human cells grown in culture. If the virus could affect cells, the dosage was not sufficient. If the viruses didn’t result in an infection, the UV source at the dose was able to kill the pathogen. It was then carefully repeated to test a variety of UV exposures, using five UV sources.
The wavelengths tested could inhibit SARS-CoV-2 with very low dosages, those that require the smallest doses were ones that release UV radiation with an amplitude of 223 nanometers. Our test was under 2 millijoules power per square centimeter in order to eliminate 99.9 percent of the virus particles. That’s around 20 seconds of time to clean the area that is exposed to a lower level of short wavelength UV light. This is like the one used during our experiment.
These systems of 222 nanometers are two times as effective as standard lamp lamps that frequently are employed in ultraviolet disinfecting equipment. The most significant thing is that the best lamp happens to be the least harmful to humans also. With the same UV strength that kills 99.9 percent of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in twenty seconds, one is able to safely be exposed the light of 222 nanometers for an twenty minutes and an hour.
The result is that there are many kinds of UV lamp light sources can be utilized in order to effectively reduce the coronavirus levels with the people in attendance.
More Efficient Use of Technology
Numerous organizations or places including the U.S. Air Force to the Space Needle in Seattle up to Boeing have already been using or exploring ways to make use of UV light within the range of 222 nanometers to safeguard the public’s health.
We believe our results are crucial because they determine precisely the doses required for different levels of control for SARS-CoV-2 which includes eliminating 90% or 99.9 percent of the viral particles.
Imagine the coffee shops supermarkets, schools, rooms, restaurants, and concert venues made secure by this technology. This isn’t only a solution to SARS-CoV-2. The technologies can help safeguard the health of people in public areas in the future, during times of emergency and also in times that are relatively normal, decreasing exposure to common infections caused by bacteria and viruses.
Comments are closed.