specific wavelength of ultraviolet (UV) light is not only extremely effective at killing the virus which causes COVID-19, but is also safer for use in public spaces, finds new University of Colorado Boulder research.
The study, published this month in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, is the first to comprehensively analyze the effects of different wavelengths of UV light on SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses, including the only wavelength safer for living beings to be exposed to without protection.
The findings, which the authors refer to as a "game changer" for UV light use, could lead to new affordable, safe and highly effective systems for reducing viral spread in crowded public spaces like airports and concert venues.
"Of almost every pathogen we have ever studied, this virus is one of the easiest, by far, to kill with UV light," said senior author Karl Linden, professor of environmental engineering. "It takes a very low dose. This indicates that UV technology could be a really good solution for protecting public spaces."
자외선은 자연적으로 태양에 의해 방출되며 대부분의 형태는 생물 --과 바이러스와 같은 미생물에 해롭습니다. 이 빛은 유기체의 게놈에 흡수되어 매듭을 묶어 번식을 방지할 수 있습니다. 그러나 태양의 이러한 유해한 파장은 지구 표면에 도달하기 전에 오존층에 의해 걸러집니다.
형광등 램프와 같은 일부 일반적인 제품은{0}인공 공학 자외선을 사용하지만 내부의 백린 코팅은 자외선으로부터 사람을 보호합니다.
"When we take that coating off, we can emit those wavelengths, and they can be harmful for our skin and our eyes -- but they can also kill pathogens," said Linden.
병원에서는 이미 UV 광 기술을 사용하여 사람이 없는 공간의 표면을 소독하고, 사용 사이에 수술실과 환자실에서 UV 광을 비출 수 있는 로봇을 활용합니다.
And many gadgets on the market today clean everything from cell phones to water bottles with UV light. But safety protocols are still being developed by the FDA and EPA. Linden cautions against using any personal or "germicidal" devices in which a person is exposed to UV light.
그는 새로운 발견이 인간에게 상대적으로 안전한 UV 광선과 특히 COVID-19를 유발하는 바이러스에 해로운 UV 광선 사이의 스위트 스팟에 도달하기 때문에 독특하다고 말했습니다.
"This can be a game changer for the public use of UV light in indoor spaces," said Linden.
노출로 인한 사망
연구를 위해 Linden과 그의 팀은 UV 조명 산업 전반에 걸쳐 개발된 표준화된 방법을 사용하여 서로 다른 UV 파장을{0}함께{1}비교했습니다.
"We thought, let's come together and make a definitive statement on what UV exposure is required to kill off SARS-CoV-2," said Linden. "We wanted to make sure that if UV light is being used to control disease, you're delivering the right dose that's protective of human health and human skin, but also going to be killing off these pathogens."
The opportunity to do this kind of work is rare, as there are extremely rigorous safety standards required to work with SARS-CoV-2. So Linden and Ben Ma, postdoctoral researcher in Linden's research group, collaborated with virologist Charles Gerba at the University of Arizona, at a lab cleared to work with the virus and its variants.
The researchers found that while the virus was quite susceptible to UV light in general, a specific wavelength of Far ultraviolet-C, at 222 nanometers, was particularly effective. Created by what's known as a krypton chloride excimer lamp, fueled by molecules moving between different states of energy, this wavelength is very high energy. Therefore, it's able to inflict greater viral protein and nucleic acid damage to the virus compared to other UV-C devices, as well as be blocked by the very top layers of human skin and eyes -- meaning that it has limited to no detrimental health effects at doses that are capable of killing off viruses.
"Not only is it safe, it's also the most effective," said Linden.
오늘날 자외선 살균의 역할
UV light in various forms has been used widely since the early 20th century to disinfect water, air and surfaces. As early as the 1940s, it was used to reduce the transmission of tuberculosis in hospitals and classrooms, by shining the light at the ceiling to disinfect air as it circulated throughout the room. Today, it's used not only in hospitals, but in some public bathrooms and airplanes when there are no people in those spaces.
In a recent White Paper published by the International UV Association, "Far UV-C Radiation: Current State-of Knowledge," which accompanies the new study, Linden and co-authors argue that this safer wavelength of Far UV-C light could serve as a key mitigation measure against the current and future pandemics, in addition to improved ventilation, mask wearing and vaccination.
Linden은 일상적으로 공기와 표면을 청소하기 위해 실내 공간에서 켜고 끌 수 있는 시스템을 상상하거나 사회적 거리두기가 불가능한 공간에서 교사와 학생, 고객과 서비스 직원, 사람들 사이에 지속적이고 보이지 않는 장벽을 만들 수 있다고 상상합니다. 공기를 소독합니다.
UV light disinfection can even rival the positive effects of improved indoor ventilation by providing the equivalent protection of increased air changes per hour within a room. It's also much cheaper to install UV lights than to upgrade an entire HVAC system.
"There is an opportunity here to save money and energy while protecting public health in the same way. It's really exciting," said Linden.
이 간행물의 추가 저자는 다음과 같습니다. CU Boulder의 Ben Ma; 애리조나 대학의 Patricia Gundy와 Charles Gerba; 및 채플 힐에 있는 노스캐롤라이나 대학교의 마크 솝시(Mark Sobsey).
