Lights ON – Covid OFF ?
It’s a new year and the world’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is having it’s ups and downs, with new variants emerging, and new vaccines being tested. The efforts of the global bio-tech industry, and other industries, to combat COVID 19 continue to be enormous. Years ago there were early warnings about the potential for a deadly global virus infection. The warnings were mostly ignored, but now that this pandemic has been with us for a more than a year, with second and third waves taxing health care systems, governments and populations are taking it very seriously, trying to do more than ever to “prevent, prepare, and mitigate”.
There may be a light at the end of this dark tunnel, and perhaps there is a special light that will contribute to keeping us all safer as we negotiate the dark tunnel, and beyond. Researchers have known for some time that certain kinds of light can sanitize surfaces, liquids, and the air, but can these sanitizing light rays be used safely, and are they effective when it comes to the new coronavirus and its variants – all those that cause the COVID-19 disease? It has been known for many years that sanitizing light waves are present in the Ultra Violet (UV) light spectrum, but most UV rays are harmful to humans and have only been used in safely enclosed environments, with limited human exposure. In recent years, researchers have discovered that there are 3 different types of light in the UV spectrum:
- UVA – has the lowest amount of energy. We are exposed to UVA when in sunlight. Exposure to this light can cause skin ageing and damage.
- UVB – is in the middle of the UV energy range. A small portion is found in sunlight and this is the type of UV light that can cause sunburn and skin cancer.
- UVC – has the highest level of energy. In sunlight, most UVC is absorbed into the Earth’s ozone layer, so we have very low levels of natural exposure.
It is UVC that is most effective in killing germs (virus and bacteria) on surfaces, in the air, and in liquids. UVC kills germs by damaging molecules like nucleic acids and proteins, rendering the germ incapable of replicating and surviving. It’s great to kill off germs, but it is important when using UVC light to use it in a way that does not adversely affect humans. The human-safe form of UVC light is named “far-UVC”, using only wavelengths in the range of 207 to 222 nanometres (nm).
Recent developments include special UVC bulbs and lamps that can be used safely to disinfect. There is an LED version developed to produce human-safe UVC light, and there are other experimental UVC light bulbs that have a potential disinfection rate of 50 to 85% more than standard room ventilation. This light will kill off many germs, leading to a significant reduction in disease contraction and transmission. Disinfecting a room, air and surfaces, can be as easy as screwing in a UVC light bulb and giving it a little time to do its work. Researchers in Canada, UK, USA, and Europe are developing innovative UVC solutions for the world. These UVC light products can be installed to sanitize a room, a car, an airport, an operating theatre, an airplane etc. More uses are being devised every week, some utilizing mobile robots to cover large areas, and some installed as stand alone lamps or ceiling lights. The aim is to provide a sanitized environment in virtually all spaces where humans congregate, visit, work, play, or reside.
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