It has been shown that very low doses of far-UVC light efficiently inactivate airborne viruses carried by aerosols. For example, a very low dose of 2 mJ/cm2 of 222-nm light inactivates >95% of airborne H1N1 virus. Recent AJIC research results indicate that far-UVC 222nm light can inactivate 99% of SARS-Co-V2 virus. It is a powerful approach for prevention and reduction of airborne viral infections without the human health hazards inherent with conventional germicidal UVC lamps. It follows that the use of overhead very low level far-UVC light in public locations may represent a safe and efficient methodology for limiting the transmission and spread of airborne-mediated microbial diseases.
Public locations such as hospitals, doctors’ offices, schools, airports, airplanes, and restaurants should be considered here. This approach may help to limit seasonal influenza epidemics, transmission of tuberculosis, as well as major pandemics.
Note: ACGIH current regulatory limit for 222nm is 22mJ/cm2 per 8 hr day