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Draft:Far-UVC

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{{Connected contributor|User1=RDX300|U1-declared=yes| I work for a pandemic preparedness nonprofit called Blueprint Biosecurity that researches pandemic preparedness interventions like far-UVC. We have no commercial affiliations towards or vested interest in promoting far-UVC. We are a nonpartisan research organization.}}

Far-UVC describes a type of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation being studied[1] and commercially developed[2] for its combination of pathogen inactivation properties and reduced negative effects on human health[3].

Compared to the broader spectrum of UVC (UV-C) light it sits within, far-UVC is classified by a shorter wavelength (200-235 nm). This shorter wavelength has been shown to have minimal effects on eye and skin health[3], although far-UVC can still produce negative health effects by interacting with airborne oxygen to produce ozone, an air pollutant.

While the technology has been studied since the early 2010s, heightened demand for disinfectant tools during the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in spurring both academic and commercial interest into far-UVC.

Although far-UVC shows potential for implementation in a wide variety of use cases, its wider adoption as a pandemic prevention strategy requires further research around its safety and efficacy.

Historical Development

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Far-UVC's development was primarily led by the research of Dr. David J. Brenner and his colleagues (including David Welch and Manuela Buonanno) at Columbia University's Center for Radiological Research. In the early 2010s, Brenner initially studied far-UVC for its potential as a surgical site disinfectant[4]. Over the next decade, his lab began to study the technology for its ability to prevent the airborne transmission of pathogens, as well as its health effects on mammalian skin[5]. In 2018, a seminal paper published by Brenner's lab announced the technology as an inexpensive and safe technology to reduce the spread of airborne microbial diseases like tuberculosis and influenza[3].

During the COVID-19 pandemic far-UVC research[6] and commercialization[2] efforts increased. The technology is currently being further studied for its safety and efficacy, particularly regarding its effect on ozone creation[7] and interactions with indoor air chemistry and the built environment[8]. Latest studies uphold initial evidence towards the technology's germicidal efficacy in realistic room-like environments[1].

Safety and Efficacy

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In addition to the Brenner lab, other researchers have studied the improved safety and efficacy profile of far-UVC[9]. When dealing with ultraviolet germicidal lights, impacts on eye and skin health are of top concern. At higher wavelengths UVC (as well as UVA and UVB) can cause irritation, sunburn, photokeratitis, and potentially even cancerous effects[10]. Far-UVC has been shown in lab mice[11] and humans to not cause any significant impacts on skin or eye health, even in doses that far exceed guidelines[12]. This is because it fails to penetrate outer layers of the epidermis, and in the case eyes, fails to penetrate the outer liquid tear layer[3][13].

When UVC light collides with airborne oxygen molecules, it can break these molecules apart and form ozone. The extent to which far-UVC leads to ozone buildup in indoor environments, as well as the extent that this is harmful to human health, remains a subject of research for scientists. [cite and include sentence on direction of latest findings]

A key concern for far-UVC implementations is balancing radiation dosage and microbial inactivation rates[14]. Although far-UVC has been shown to be effective at inactivating a wide array at viruses at relatively low doses[15], the optimal dosage for achieving sufficient deactivation and indoor air quality standards[16] requires further study.

Far-UVC Devices and Commercialization

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The most common device used to generate far-UVC radiation is a Krypton Chloride (KrCl) excimer lamp, which emits light at the 222 nm wavelength. Following the sudden increase in demand for disinfectant tools brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of companies began to market and sell consumer far-UVC devices. These devices comes in many different configurations and commercial form factors. [can I cite something here?].

Regulation

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Considering the technology's evolving nature, regulatory bodies around the world have not yet created binding standards as to what is considered a safe and effective dosage for far-UVC implementations, nor have they created certifications or regulations for the safety of commercial far-UVC devices. There are however guidelines for exposure thresholds and indoor air quality put in place by professional associations[9][17].

References

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  1. ^ a b "Far-UVC Light Can Virtually Eliminate Airborne Virus in an Occupied Room". Columbia University Irving Medical Center. 2024-04-02. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  2. ^ a b Morrissey, Janet (2020-06-16). "Fighting the Coronavirus With Innovative Tech". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  3. ^ a b c d Welch, David; Buonanno, Manuela; Grilj, Veljko; Shuryak, Igor; Crickmore, Connor; Bigelow, Alan W.; Randers-Pehrson, Gerhard; Johnson, Gary W.; Brenner, David J. (2018-02-09). "Far-UVC light: A new tool to control the spread of airborne-mediated microbial diseases". Scientific Reports. 8 (1): 2752. Bibcode:2018NatSR...8.2752W. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-21058-w. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 5807439. PMID 29426899.
  4. ^ Buonanno, Manuela; Randers-Pehrson, Gerhard; Bigelow, Alan W.; Trivedi, Sheetal; Lowy, Franklin D.; Spotnitz, Henry M.; Hammer, Scott M.; Brenner, David J. (2013-10-16). "207-nm UV Light - A Promising Tool for Safe Low-Cost Reduction of Surgical Site Infections. I: In Vitro Studies". PLOS ONE. 8 (10): e76968. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...876968B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0076968. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 3797730. PMID 24146947.
  5. ^ Buonanno, Manuela; Ponnaiya, Brian; Welch, David; Stanislauskas, Milda; Randers-Pehrson, Gerhard; Smilenov, Lubomir; Lowy, Franklin D.; Owens, David M.; Brenner, David J. (April 2017). "Germicidal Efficacy and Mammalian Skin Safety of 222-nm UV Light". Radiation Research. 187 (4): 483–491. Bibcode:2017RadR..187..493B. doi:10.1667/RR0010CC.1. ISSN 0033-7587. PMC 5552051. PMID 28225654.
  6. ^ Welch, David; Buonanno, Manuela; Buchan, Andrew G.; Yang, Liang; Atkinson, Kirk D.; Shuryak, Igor; Brenner, David J. (April 2022). "Inactivation Rates for Airborne Human Coronavirus by Low Doses of 222 nm Far-UVC Radiation". Viruses. 14 (4): 684. doi:10.3390/v14040684. ISSN 1999-4915.
  7. ^ Peng, Zhe; Day, Douglas A.; Symonds, Guy A.; Jenks, Olivia J.; Stark, Harald; Handschy, Anne V.; de Gouw, Joost A.; Jimenez, Jose L. (2023-08-08). "Significant Production of Ozone from Germicidal UV Lights at 222 nm". Environmental Science & Technology Letters. 10 (8): 668–674. Bibcode:2023EnSTL..10..668P. doi:10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00314. ISSN 2328-8930.
  8. ^ Drungilas, Darius; Kurmis, Mindaugas; Tadzijevas, Arturas; Lukosius, Zydrunas; Martinkenas, Arvydas; Didziokas, Rimantas; Gruode, Jurate; Sapalas, Deivydas; Jankunas, Valdas (January 2023). "Evaluating the Impact of 222 nm Far-UVC Radiation on the Aesthetic and Mechanical Properties of Materials Used in Public Bus Interiors". Applied Sciences. 13 (7): 4141. doi:10.3390/app13074141. ISSN 2076-3417.
  9. ^ a b Görlitz, Maximilian; Justen, Lennart; Rochette, Patrick J.; Buonanno, Manuela; Welch, David; Kleiman, Norman J.; Eadie, Ewan; Kaidzu, Sachiko; Bradshaw, William J.; Javorsky, Emilia; Cridland, Nigel; Galor, Anat; Guttmann, Martin; Meinke, Martina C.; Schleusener, Johannes (May 2024). "Assessing the safety of new germicidal far-UVC technologies". Photochemistry and Photobiology. 100 (3): 501–520. doi:10.1111/php.13866. ISSN 0031-8655.
  10. ^ "Does UV Radiation Cause Cancer?". www.cancer.org. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  11. ^ Cadet, Jean (July 2020). "Harmless Effects of Sterilizing 222-nm far-UV Radiation on Mouse Skin and Eye Tissues". Photochemistry and Photobiology. 96 (4): 949–950. doi:10.1111/php.13294. ISSN 1751-1097. PMID 32526045.
  12. ^ Eadie, Ewan; Barnard, Isla M. R.; Ibbotson, Sally H.; Wood, Kenneth (May 2021). "Extreme Exposure to Filtered Far-UVC: A Case Study †". Photochemistry and Photobiology. 97 (3): 527–531. doi:10.1111/php.13385. ISSN 0031-8655. PMC 8638665. PMID 33471372.
  13. ^ Kousha, Obaid; O'Mahoney, Paul; Hammond, Robert; Wood, Kenneth; Eadie, Ewan (2024). "222 nm Far-UVC from filtered Krypton-Chloride excimer lamps does not cause eye irritation when deployed in a simulated office environment". Photochemistry and Photobiology. 100 (1): 137–145. doi:10.1111/php.13805. ISSN 1751-1097. PMC 10952573. PMID 37029739.
  14. ^ Ryan, Kevin; McCabe, Kevin; Clements, Nick; Hernandez, Mark; Miller, Shelly L. (2010-06-04). "Inactivation of Airborne Microorganisms Using Novel Ultraviolet Radiation Sources in Reflective Flow-Through Control Devices". Aerosol Science and Technology. 44 (7): 541–550. Bibcode:2010AerST..44..541R. doi:10.1080/02786821003762411. ISSN 0278-6826.
  15. ^ Ma, Ben; Bright, Kelly; Ikner, Luisa; Ley, Christian; Seyedi, Saba; Gerba, Charles P.; Sobsey, Mark D.; Piper, Patrick; Linden, Karl G. (2023). "UV Inactivation of Common Pathogens and Surrogates Under 222 nm Irradiation from KrCl* Excimer Lamps". Photochemistry and Photobiology. 99 (3): 975–982. doi:10.1111/php.13724. ISSN 1751-1097. PMID 36129750.
  16. ^ "ASHRAE Completes Draft of First-Ever Pathogen Mitigation Standard". www.ashrae.org. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  17. ^ "ASHRAE Standard 241, Control of Infectious Aerosols | ashrae.org". www.ashrae.org. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
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