Is UVC Light Safe?

Sunlight contains three types of ultraviolet rays. The first one is UVA, which constitutes the vast majority of ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the earth. It has the ability to penetrate deep into the skin and is thought to cause up to 80% of skin aging (from wrinkles to age spots).

Next ray is UVB, which damages the DNA in our skin, causes sunburn and eventually leads to skin cancer (scientists have recently discovered that UVA can also do the same). Both are well known and can be blocked by most high-quality sunscreens.

There is a third type: UVC. This relatively obscure part of the spectrum consists of shorter, higher-energy wavelengths of light. It is particularly good at destroying genetic material in humans or virus particles. Fortunately, most of us are unlikely to encounter anything. That's because it is filtered out by the ozone in the atmosphere long before it reaches our fragile skin.

At least until scientists discovered that they could use UVC to kill microorganisms. Since its discovery in 1878, artificially produced UVC has become the main method of disinfection-used daily in hospitals, airplanes, offices, and factories. Crucially, this is also the basis of the drinking water disinfection process. Some parasites are resistant to chemical disinfectants such as chlorine, so it has a fail-safe function.

Although there is currently no research specifically on how UVC affects Covid-19, research shows that UVC can be used against other coronaviruses, such as Sars. Radiation distorts the structure of its genetic material and prevents virus particles from replicating more on their own.

At least until scientists discovered that they could use UVC to kill microorganisms, at least that way. Since its discovery in 1878, artificially produced UVC has become the main method of disinfection-used daily in hospitals, airplanes, offices, and factories. Crucially, this is also the basis of the drinking water disinfection process. Some parasites are resistant to chemical disinfectants such as chlorine, so it has a fail-safe function.

Although there is currently no research specifically on how UVC affects Covid-19, research shows that UVC can be used against other coronaviruses, such as Sars. Radiation distorts the structure of its genetic material and prevents virus particles from replicating more on their own.

However, it is not as good as we hoped. In a recent study (the study looked at whether UVC can be used to disinfect PPE), the authors found that although the virus can be killed in this way, in an experiment, it needs to be This virus has the highest exposure level. so far. The amount of ultraviolet light required varies greatly, depending on factors such as the shape and type of material used by the virus.

However, in the fight against Covid-19, the concentrated form of UVC is now at the forefront. In China, the whole bus is illuminated by ghostly blue lights every night, while suqat, cleaning robot that emits UVC has been cleaning the floor of the hospital. Banks have even been disinfecting their money with lights.

"UVC is really annoying-you shouldn't touch it," Arnold said. "It may take hours to get a sunburn from UVB, but it takes a few seconds to use UVC. If your eyes are exposed... Do you know that you will feel aggrieved if you look at the sun? A few seconds later, It’s like 10 times."

In order to use UVC safely, you need professional equipment and training. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a severe warning, warning people to use ultraviolet light to disinfect their hands or any other parts of the skin.

At the White House briefing on Thursday, the President of the United States suggested that ultraviolet light can be brought into the body to kill the coronavirus. It is not clear which type he is referring to, but given that we know little about the damage UVA, UVB and UVC can cause to genetic material and biological tissues, this would be a bad idea-let alone impractical , Because Covid-19 mainly infects the lungs.

Recently, scientists have discovered a promising new type of UVC called 222nm far uvc light. This type of UVC treatment is less dangerous and is still lethal to viruses and bacteria. The wavelength of far-ultraviolet light is shorter than that of conventional ultraviolet light. So far, laboratory experiments on human skin cells have shown that far-ultraviolet light does not damage its DNA (more research is needed to determine).