New Type of UV Light Kills Airborne Germs, Study Says
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A type of ultraviolet light called far-UVC, which is safe to shine on people, could dramatically reduce the transmission of airborne germs when used indoors, according to a new study published in Scientific Reports, a journal by Nature. In an experiment, shining the light for less than 5 minutes reduced the number of airborne microbes by more than 98%, the researchers found. The technology could become a new "hands-off" way to reduce the spread of airborne diseases such as COVID-19 and the flu, they say.
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@pritha Scientists have known for decades that a type of ultraviolet light called UVC can kill microbes, including bacteria and viruses. But conventional germ-killing UVC light can't be used in indoor spaces when people are present because it could harm the eyes and skin, potentially causing sunburn and skin cancer. UVC has mostly been limited to sterilizing medical equipment. Far-UVC light, on the other hand, has a shorter wavelength and doesn't penetrate human skin cells or eye cells. During the past decade, multiple studies across the world have found that far-UVC can destroy airborne germs without causing damage to living tissue