#UVC TECHNOLOGY SKIN#

Specifically, far-UVC light (207–222 nm) is very strongly absorbed by proteins through the peptide bond, and other biomolecules 19, 20, so its ability to penetrate biological materials is very limited compared with, for example, 254 nm (or higher) conventional germicidal UV light 21, 22. The biophysically-based mechanistic basis to this far-UVC approach 12 is that light in this wavelength range has a very limited penetration depth. Several groups have thus proposed that far-UVC light (207 or 222 nm), which can be generated using inexpensive excimer lamps, is a potential safe and efficient anti-microbial technology 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 which can be deployed in occupied public locations. Thus far-UVC light potentially has about the same highly effective germicidal properties of UV light, but without the associated human health risks 12, 13, 14, 15. But because viruses (and bacteria) are extremely small, far-UVC light can still penetrate and kill them.

#UVC TECHNOLOGY SKIN#

In short (see below) the reason is that far-UVC light has a range in biological materials of less than a few micrometers, and thus it cannot reach living human cells in the skin or eyes, being absorbed in the skin stratum corneum or the ocular tear layer. However, while these lamps can be used to disinfect unoccupied spaces, direct exposure to conventional germicidal UV lamps in occupied public spaces is not possible since direct exposure to these germicidal lamp wavelengths can be a health hazard, both to the skin and eye 7, 8, 9, 10.īy contrast far-UVC light (207 to 222 nm) has been shown to be as efficient as conventional germicidal UV light in killing microorganisms 11, but studies to date 12, 13, 14, 15 suggest that these wavelengths do not cause the human health issues associated with direct exposure to conventional germicidal UV light. The most commonly employed type of UV light for germicidal applications is a low pressure mercury-vapor arc lamp, emitting around 254 nm more recently xenon lamp technology has been used, which emits broad UV spectrum 6.

Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure is a direct antimicrobial approach 4 and its effectiveness against different strains of airborne viruses has long been established 5. Given the rapid spread of the disease, including through asymptomatic carriers 3, it is of clear importance to explore practical mitigation technologies that can inactivate the airborne virus in public locations and thus limit airborne transmission. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the beta coronavirus causing COVID-19, is believed to be both through direct contact and airborne routes, and studies of SARS-CoV-2 stability have shown viability in aerosols for at least 3 hours 2. Despite extensive efforts to contain the spread of the disease, it has spread worldwide with over 5.3 million confirmed cases and over 340,000 confirmed deaths as of 1. Thus while staying within current regulatory dose limits, low-dose-rate far-UVC exposure can potentially safely provide a major reduction in the ambient level of airborne coronaviruses in occupied public locations.Ĭoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in December 2019 and then characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Based on the beta-HCoV-OC43 results, continuous far-UVC exposure in occupied public locations at the current regulatory exposure limit (~3 mJ/cm 2/hour) would result in ~90% viral inactivation in ~8 minutes, 95% in ~11 minutes, 99% in ~16 minutes and 99.9% inactivation in ~25 minutes. As all human coronaviruses have similar genomic sizes, far-UVC light would be expected to show similar inactivation efficiency against other human coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2. Low doses of 1.7 and 1.2 mJ/cm 2 inactivated 99.9% of aerosolized coronavirus 229E and OC43, respectively. We previously demonstrated that 222-nm far-UVC light efficiently kills airborne influenza virus and we extend those studies to explore far-UVC efficacy against airborne human coronaviruses alpha HCoV-229E and beta HCoV-OC43.

By contrast, far-UVC light (207–222 nm) efficiently kills pathogens potentially without harm to exposed human tissues. Germicidal ultraviolet light, typically at 254 nm, is effective in this context but, used directly, can be a health hazard to skin and eyes. A direct approach to limit airborne viral transmissions is to inactivate them within a short time of their production.

Uvc technology