So, is UVC more effective than, say, chemical disinfecting solutions? “Chemical disinfectants have also been recommended by the World Health Organization for disinfecting surfaces, particularly floors. The study, which was published in the journal Scientific Reports in June, investigated the effects of far-UVC light (in the 254nm wavelength) on two common coronaviruses which are structurally similar to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. A recent study by researchers at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center showed that more than 99.9% of seasonal coronaviruses present in airborne droplets were killed when exposed to a particular wavelength of ultraviolet light that is safe to use around humans. For, it’s only UVC light that has the capability to kill pathogens or render them inactive. Most of the UVC radiation is absorbed by Earth’s ozone layer but it can be produced artificially with UV lamps. According to a fact sheet on UV disinfection for covid-19 by the US-based International Ultraviolet Association, UVC light is much “stronger" than normal sunlight and can trigger a severe sunburn-like reaction. The shortwave-length UVC (in the range of 100-280nm) is considered the most damaging. UVB, which is medium wavelength (in the range of 280-315nm), promotes the production of vitamin D in the human skin. According to WHO, the long-wavelength UVA, which covers a range of 315-400 nanometres (nm), accounts for approximately 95% of the UV radiation that reaches Earth’s surface. Both UVA and UVB are wavelengths of UV rays that reach us through sunlight, after being filtered by the atmosphere. To answer this question, it’s key to understand the different types and wavelengths of UV lights: UVA, UVB and UVC. Others maintain that any direct exposure of the human skin to these lights can be a health hazard. Earlier this month, when the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledged that there was “emerging evidence" of the airborne spread of the novel coronavirus, especially in indoor settings, the focus shifted back to a disinfection method that has proved polarizing: ultraviolet (UV) lights.Ĭertain studies support the efficacy of UV lights in disinfecting some living and working spaces and day-to-day items.
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