The Coronavirus pandemic is already a historic event. It has affected all industries, economies, and worldwide ecosystems. We don’t know when it will end and how our lives will be after all this is over.
In the fight against the COVID-19 virus, many tools have been developed but proven to be not so effective. In their desperate search to find new measures that can dissipate the spread of the virus, experts have discovered that ultraviolet radiation (UV) may be effective in inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Ultraviolet technology has been long used in hospitals and healthcare facilities as it is known it kills 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and viruses.
“The thing about Ultraviolet is it is of sufficient energy to cause damage to cells, DNA and other biological material, which can make it a powerful disinfectant against viruses and bacteria,” stated Consumer Reports Chief Scientist James Dickerson.
How does UV work against coronavirus?
The light coming from the sun contains various types of UV light but they aren’t very efficient at killing the coronavirus. One particular type of UV light that seems to be the strongest for eliminating viruses is UVC light, which has wavelengths of 200-280 nanometers.
“The longer the wavelength, the deeper they penetrate, but they’re not as energetic, so they’re not as destructive,” says Clive Beggs, emeritus professor of physiology at Leeds Beckett University.
Recent studies show that UVC light can wipe out the novel coronavirus with varying results. According to one study published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), UVC light inactivated large quantities of COVID-19 in liquid cultures in nine minutes. Another piece of research found that UVC light killed the virus on laboratory surfaces by 99.7% in half a minute. The study used a type of UVC light called “far-UVC,” which has wavelengths between 207 and 222 nanometers.
UV Tech Gear
Ultraviolet technology has been developed intensively especially since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the most popular UV-based technologies are:
Modulab’s Autonomic Robot
A much-needed weapon against the virus was built in Romania after healthcare facilities were outnumbered by high numbers of COVID-19 patients. By adding powerful ultraviolet C-lamps to the robotic platform, Modulab built a device that can disinfect an area of 20 m2 in around 10 minutes, including clothing and equipment.
“When you work in R&D, it’s very difficult to standardize processes,” reveals Ioana Calen-Popescu. “We are a tech-focused, freestyle team, so this project was exactly what we needed to get organized at such a crucial time. The coronavirus is still a global threat, but our robot has received the CE marking, and now we need to streamline production in order to meet increasing demand all around the world.”
Dyson Pure Humidify and Cool
The Pure Humidify and Cool maintains the air in indoor buildings cool and filtered of allergens and pollutants. The water used by this humidifier is exposed to UV-C light, which helps to eliminate up to 99.9% of germs.
LG TONE Free UVnano Wireless Earbuds
These are no regular wireless headphones as they use UV-C on the inside to kill bacteria that exist on the speaker mesh of each earbud. The UVnano charging is responsible for making these headphones safer to use.
Lexon Oblio + Mundus UV Pro
This phone charger uses UV-C light to kill most of the germs that exist on your phone in just twenty minutes. And the price of this device is very convenient given its capabilities to eliminate dangerous viruses—only €79.90.
Conclusion
While the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, UV technologies promise to make our lives a bit easier and help us feel more secured. Many organizations are already using UVC lamps to fight the battle against the coronavirus, and it seems that these technologies are becoming increasingly popular.
