A steady low dose of overhead far ultraviolet C light can kill airborne influenza without harming human skin, according to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Scientists have known for years that broad spectrum UVC light has the power to kill infectious pathogens. While this light is effective at decontaminating surgical equipment, it can harm human skin.
To assess the efficacy of narrow spectrum UVC light (far-UVC) in eliminating influenza, researcher exposed H1N1 to low doses of far-UVC, which does not harm skin. The narrow spectrum light successfully deactivated the virus at the same efficiency level as conventional UV light disinfectants.
"If our results are confirmed in other settings, it follows that the use of overhead low-level far-UVC light in public locations would be a safe and efficient method for limiting the transmission and spread of airborne-mediated microbial diseases, such as influenza and tuberculosis," said David J. Brenner, PhD, the Higgins Professor of Radiation Biophysics Professor of Environmental Health Sciences Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.
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