2023-05-16 16:00:00
Certain airborne diseases, such as gripe and the tuberculosisrepresent major public health challenges. That is why finding a direct method to prevent the transmission of this type of disease through the air could be a true revolution. And precisely a light-based system, which manages to eliminate the pathogens that swarm in the environment, would be fabulous.
Ultraviolet light is a potential antimicrobial agent that responds to this preventative approach. Of the 9 existing types of light, the short wave ultraviolet radiation -UVC– had already long been established as an effective microbial agent. However, its widespread use in public settings has hitherto been limited because conventional UVC light sources are harmful to health.
Far UVC light has the ability to inactivate some airborne pathogens without endangering human health.
But not all. A scientific team from Columbia University Medical Center -CUIMC– showed that far UVC light -one whose wavelength is between 207 and 222 nanometers- it has the ability to inactivate some of these airborne pathogens without endangering human health. The results of the study titled Special UV light safely kills airborne flu finds study were published in the magazine Scientific Reports.
Inactivate viruses with light
David J. Benner, teacher of Radiation Biophysics and of Environmental Health Sciences at the same time as director of Radiological Research Center at the CUIMC and lead author of the study, explains that: “Far UVC light has a very limited range and cannot penetrate through the outer layer of dead human skin cells or the tear layer in the eye, so it is not a danger to human health. However, viruses and bacteria are much smaller than human cells, so far-UVC light can reach their genetic material and inactivate them” because this type of invisible light attacks molecular bonds that hold DNA together.
Microbes, a new era of exploration
The findings suggest that the use of far-UV light in hospitals, doctor’s offices, schools, airports, airplanes, and other public spaces could provide powerful control over seasonal flu epidemicsas well as prevent the spread of pandemics related to this and other diseases.
At a price of less than 1,000 euros per lamp, a cost that would surely decrease if they were mass-produced, far-UVC lights would be tremendously inexpensive. In addition, they are multi-purpose, as airborne microbes can be used, including new emerging strains,” he concludes.
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