A new study recently revealed that a new type of ultraviolet light successfully reduced the concentration of indoor airborne bacteria by a remarkable 98 percent.
As specified in a report from the India Times, a collaborative study by researchers from Columbia University of St. Andrews, University of Dundee, and University of Leeds had revealed that even when bacteria were sprayed inside a room, their levels stayed impressively low "as long as the ultraviolet lights were on."
The best part is that probably, it took just five minutes for the light to lessen the level of bacteria indoors. Meaning, if installed in the ceiling, such technology could efficiently reduce the person-to-person spread of airborne viruses like COVID-19.
Essentially, if all buildings worldwide had these ultraviolet lights, this report said common cold would be "uncommon," and a possible new virus could be halted even before it wreaks havoc.
An employee of the Chilean-Brazilian airline LATAM monitors the operation of an autonomous robot that uses type C ultraviolet light (UV-C) to clean the interior of the aircraft, amid the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
Far-UVC Light
According to the Center for Radiology Research director at Columbia University, David Brenner, Ph.D., the so-called "far-UVC" quickly reduces the amount of active bacteria in the indoor air to nearly zero, making indoor air vitally as safe as outdoor air.
Brenner, who's also the study's co-author of the study believes that employing this technology in areas where people gather together indoors such as restaurants, clubs, and offices could efficiently stop the next pandemic.
The study, published in the Scientific Reports journal, employs the power of far-UVC light, a new method to kill or destroy airborne viruses in closed areas. Conventional UVC light that's killing germs is not feasible for utilization among people as it harms the eyes and skin.
A decade ago, researchers at Columbia proposed far-UVC light that boasted the same bacteria-killing properties of conventional UVC minus posing any health risk to humans.
LED in the UV Spectrum
Far-UVC, in particular, has a shorter wavelength than conventional UVC, which means that it cannot penetrate human eyes or skin, although it works efficiently.
In 2020, reports had it that researchers from the University of California in Santa Barbara Solid State Lighting and Energy Electronics Center reported that they were considering developing light-emitting diodes or LED in the UV spectrum that could sanitize surface "that may have been contaminated by the coronavirus."
This project t UC-BC was promoted by various corporate partners, one of which was Seoul Semiconductor, which reported earlier, a 99.9 percent sterilization of coronavirus in just 30 seconds using its UV LED products. The technology is presently used to make UV LED lamps sterilize unoccupied vehicles' interiors.
The infection of spaces possibly contaminated by the virus has opened a new window of opportunity for technology. Experts in the field said it would offer a convenient, inexpensive, and chemical-free approach to sanitize public, personal, retail, and even medical spaces.
Related information about ultraviolet light killing bacteria is shown on Ultraaqua UV Disinfection Systems' YouTube video below:
RELATED ARTICLE: Does UV or LED Light Exposure with a Gel Manicure Cause Skin Cancer? What Nail Dryer to Buy?
Check out more news and information on Technology and Medicine & Health in Science Times.
