General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow about "black lights" (far UVC)? Hospitals and quarantine rooms sometimes use it to kill viruses.
I have read that is effective in decontaminating open air spaces, such as airport lobbies, hospital corridors, meeting rooms, etc.
It can be irritating to be in, but as far as I have seen, not harmful to humans.
Just spit balling. I haven't heard mention of it in regards to Covid-19.
intrepidity
(7,356 posts)Same with all other tools we will need.
Right now, we are already facing shortages of the basic lab supplies needed to even begin ramping up testing (eg, RNA extraction tools).
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)lapfog_1
(29,243 posts)with a true black light of the right intensity.
The Chinese have these UV robots that go around outdoors and UV everything and everyone in a pattern.
similar to this one
Midnight Writer
(21,845 posts)lapfog_1
(29,243 posts)On the other hand... if we did what I suggest (everyone stay home, get food and medicine delivered)... one could put a UV light over the delivery "box" and kill any virus on the outside of your delivery packages... in addition to the delivery person spritzing it as he drops it off with rubbing alcohol (also very lethal to viruses) or bleach.
I suggested this to a friend that has an extensive collection of black lights for his halloween decorations and I think he has set it up over the front door.
Over reactive... I don't think so.
marble falls
(57,479 posts)Midnight Writer
(21,845 posts)marble falls
(57,479 posts)me from having to take on too many responsibilities.
Yonnie3
(17,516 posts)marble falls
(57,479 posts)safeinOhio
(32,749 posts)Got 3 double bulbs ones out there. Use to have them for some vaseline glass I have. Don't have room for it anymore in me little house. Might as well put out some that glass. Pretty cool looking in the dark.
Liberal In Texas
(13,612 posts)Researchers say a certain spectrum of ultraviolet light -- called far-UVC -- easily kills airborne flu viruses while posing no risk to people.
It could offer a new, inexpensive way to eliminate airborne flu viruses in indoor public spaces such as hospitals, doctors' offices, schools, airports and aircraft, said the team from Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.
The disinfecting success of initial experiments still need to be confirmed, said lead research David Brenner.
But he believes "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."
As the researchers explained, broad-spectrum UVC light kills viruses and bacteria, and it is currently used to decontaminate surgical equipment. But this type of light can cause skin cancer and cataracts, so it's not used in public spaces.
However, Brenner and his colleagues wondered if a much narrower spectrum of ultraviolet light, far-UVC, might be a safer option.
In prior studies, they found that far-UVC light killed methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) bacteria -- a common and dangerous "superbug" -- without harming human or mouse skin.
In this new study, they found that far-UVC light also killed airborne H1N1 virus, a common strain of flu virus.
"Far-UVC light has a very limited range and cannot penetrate through the outer dead-cell layer of human skin or the tear layer in the eye, so it's not a human health hazard," said Brenner, who directs Columbia's Center for Radiological Research.
However, "because viruses and bacteria are much smaller than human cells, far-UVC light can reach their DNA and kill them," he said in a university news release.
Lamps with this type of UV light currently cost less than $1,000, Brenner said, but that price would likely fall if the lamps were mass-produced.
From https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20180212/can-uv-light-be-used-to-kill-airborne-flu-virus-#1 From 2018 but sure still seem relevant.
and more if one searches for "does uv kill viruses."
MoonlitKnight
(1,584 posts)I may have to make it a regular decontamination stop.
C_U_L8R
(45,035 posts)where liquids like alcohol would ruin the screen.
Mike 03
(16,616 posts)the virus could be in the air of your own home.