Can UVC Light Kill the Coronavirus
Can UV light kill the Coronavirus
|
With fear and concern permeating the business
world, you need the very best and most
knowledgeable professionals to analyze and manage
your lighting needs to most effectively reduce or
mitigate risks associated with Covid-19 or any
other virus that might infect your environment,
staff, or employees.
Since UV-C radiation can kill many
microorganisms, experts began looking into its
potential to eradicate the coronavirus. Some say
the results of those studies and clinical trials
are somewhat unclear. Others insist it’s a
safe and effective remedy.
Keep In mind, this isn’t the first strain of the coronavirus, and it most likely won’t be the last. UV-C can destroy other strains of the virus, so it would stand to reason that it would work on the one responsible for the current pandemic as long as it’s used properly. Eradicating the COVID-19 virus via UV radiation requires a significant amount of exposure. Only UV-C radiation is effective. It’s also dangerous in the hands of untrained individuals, and it can cause its fair share of other health issues while it’s destroying those microbes. Timing, dosage, and appropriate safety measures are all crucial components in the process. The Problems with Personal UV Disinfectant Tools Many UV lights are marketed as hand sanitizers. Because UV-C is so dangerous to human cells, it should never be used on the skin. No type of UV radiation should be used in this manner unless it’s done by trained medical professionals. From another perspective, manufacturers can place a UV label on virtually any type of light, and the general public would never know if they had the right type of ultraviolet light or not. As such, those who purchase falsely marketed UV hand sanitizers might be lulled into a false sense of security. If so, they may leave themselves more open to exposure than they would otherwise. In short, UV lights that are actually capable of killing the coronavirus are extremely dangerous. Sanitizing tools that are safe for people to use outside of a controlled setting won’t kill COVID-19. You might say it’s a no-win situation. |
Email below or call us at 804-531-4850 to discuss your
needs.
|
Looking at the Bigger Picture
When the coronavirus pandemic took the world by storm,
people panicked. News of the pandemic basically spread more
quickly than the virus itself. Very early on, the CDC set
forth guidelines encouraging people to wear masks and
gloves in public and practice social distancing.
As a result, the public donned those masks, gloves, and in some cases, even full-blown hazmat suits, and flocked to the stores in droves without truly understanding how to best use them to protect against COVID-19. Only certain types of masks are approved for blocking the coronavirus, and if gloves and masks aren’t taken off in just the right way, people can inadvertently contaminate themselves. Most people haven’t been trained in the proper techniques for removing personal protective equipment.
In a matter of a few days, hand sanitizer shelves were bare as people scrambled to protect themselves. Rumors then began to spread about being able to use rubbing alcohol and aloe vera gel to make homemade sanitizer, so both of those products soon sold out as well. Then, liquor stores saw record sales as stories of replacing rubbing alcohol with high-proof grain alcohol began to circulate. Again, most people didn’t know how to use these measures effectively.
All this speaks to the fact that no safety measure is completely foolproof. UV-C has been proven to kill numerous viruses and bacteria. As mentioned, it can eliminate 99.99 percent of harmful pathogens, including COVID-19. Still, its effectiveness depends on using the UV lights correctly. Even then, it’s not exactly safe in the wrong hands.
As a result, the public donned those masks, gloves, and in some cases, even full-blown hazmat suits, and flocked to the stores in droves without truly understanding how to best use them to protect against COVID-19. Only certain types of masks are approved for blocking the coronavirus, and if gloves and masks aren’t taken off in just the right way, people can inadvertently contaminate themselves. Most people haven’t been trained in the proper techniques for removing personal protective equipment.
In a matter of a few days, hand sanitizer shelves were bare as people scrambled to protect themselves. Rumors then began to spread about being able to use rubbing alcohol and aloe vera gel to make homemade sanitizer, so both of those products soon sold out as well. Then, liquor stores saw record sales as stories of replacing rubbing alcohol with high-proof grain alcohol began to circulate. Again, most people didn’t know how to use these measures effectively.
All this speaks to the fact that no safety measure is completely foolproof. UV-C has been proven to kill numerous viruses and bacteria. As mentioned, it can eliminate 99.99 percent of harmful pathogens, including COVID-19. Still, its effectiveness depends on using the UV lights correctly. Even then, it’s not exactly safe in the wrong hands.