Science New Type of Ultraviolet Light Makes Indoor Air as Safe as Outdoors

tom_mai78101

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A new type of ultraviolet light that is safe for people took less than five minutes to reduce the level of indoor airborne microbes by more than 98%, a joint study by scientists at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and in the U.K. has found. Even as microbes continued to be sprayed into the room, the level remained very low as long as the lights were on.

The study suggests that far-UVC light from lamps installed in the ceiling could be a highly effective passive technology for reducing person-to-person transmission of airborne-mediated diseases such as COVID and influenza indoors, and lowering the risk of the next pandemic.

“Far-UVC rapidly reduces the amount of active microbes in the indoor air to almost zero, making indoor air essentially as safe as outdoor air,” says David Brenner, PhD, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and co-author of the study. “Using this technology in locations where people gather together indoors could prevent the next potential pandemic.”

The study was published March 23 in the journal Scientific Reports, a Nature journal.


 
This is pretty cool! I wonder what happened with this?
 

Efficacy surpassed expectations​


"Based on our initial sensitivity tests, we expected to see a reduction in airborne virus of around 66%,” says Brenner.


The result—a reduction in infectious airborne viruses of 99.8%—surpassed expectations and was far greater than what could be achieved by typical air filtration and ventilation.


The study did not find any measurable difference in air quality (ozone or particulates) associated with far-UVC illumination.


Next steps​


Far-UVC lamps are being installed in more public locations, with corresponding measurements of the reduction in airborne pathogens. Brenner’s team is also performing laboratory studies to directly quantify the effect of far-UVC light on airborne disease transmission.
 
This one was only under 3 years old so maybe we have hope of seeing the results of this in our lifetime :)
 
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