222 nm far-UVC light markedly reduces the level of infectious airborne virus in an occupied room
Abstract An emerging intervention for control of airborne-mediated pandemics and epidemics is whole-room far-UVC (200–235 nm). Laboratory studies have shown that 222-nm light inactivates airborne pathogens, potentially without harm to exposed occupants. While encouraging results have been reported i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57441-z |
| _version_ | 1827310294769074176 |
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| author | Manuela Buonanno Norman J. Kleiman David Welch Raabia Hashmi Igor Shuryak David J. Brenner |
| author_facet | Manuela Buonanno Norman J. Kleiman David Welch Raabia Hashmi Igor Shuryak David J. Brenner |
| author_sort | Manuela Buonanno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract An emerging intervention for control of airborne-mediated pandemics and epidemics is whole-room far-UVC (200–235 nm). Laboratory studies have shown that 222-nm light inactivates airborne pathogens, potentially without harm to exposed occupants. While encouraging results have been reported in benchtop studies and in room-sized bioaerosol chambers, there is a need for quantitative studies of airborne pathogen reduction in occupied rooms. We quantified far-UVC mediated reduction of aerosolized murine norovirus (MNV) in an occupied mouse-cage cleaning room within an animal-care facility. Benchtop studies suggest that MNV is a conservative surrogate for airborne viruses such as influenza and coronavirus. Using four 222-nm fixtures installed in the ceiling, and staying well within current recommended regulatory limits, far-UVC reduced airborne infectious MNV by 99.8% (95% CI: 98.2–99.9%). Similar to previous room-sized bioaerosol chamber studies on far-UVC efficacy, these results suggest that aerosolized virus susceptibility is significantly higher in room-scale tests than in bench-scale laboratory studies. That said, as opposed to controlled laboratory studies, uncertainties in this study related to airflow patterns, virus residence time, and dose to the collected virus introduce uncertainty into the inactivation estimates. This study is the first to directly demonstrate far-UVC anti-microbial efficacy against airborne pathogens in an occupied indoor location. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:57:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bce75f2641cb4c2785ebb3a68d12e95d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:57:27Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-bce75f2641cb4c2785ebb3a68d12e95d2024-03-24T12:17:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-03-0114111110.1038/s41598-024-57441-z222 nm far-UVC light markedly reduces the level of infectious airborne virus in an occupied roomManuela Buonanno0Norman J. Kleiman1David Welch2Raabia Hashmi3Igor Shuryak4David J. Brenner5Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterCenter for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterCenter for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterCenter for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterCenter for Radiological Research, Columbia University Irving Medical CenterAbstract An emerging intervention for control of airborne-mediated pandemics and epidemics is whole-room far-UVC (200–235 nm). Laboratory studies have shown that 222-nm light inactivates airborne pathogens, potentially without harm to exposed occupants. While encouraging results have been reported in benchtop studies and in room-sized bioaerosol chambers, there is a need for quantitative studies of airborne pathogen reduction in occupied rooms. We quantified far-UVC mediated reduction of aerosolized murine norovirus (MNV) in an occupied mouse-cage cleaning room within an animal-care facility. Benchtop studies suggest that MNV is a conservative surrogate for airborne viruses such as influenza and coronavirus. Using four 222-nm fixtures installed in the ceiling, and staying well within current recommended regulatory limits, far-UVC reduced airborne infectious MNV by 99.8% (95% CI: 98.2–99.9%). Similar to previous room-sized bioaerosol chamber studies on far-UVC efficacy, these results suggest that aerosolized virus susceptibility is significantly higher in room-scale tests than in bench-scale laboratory studies. That said, as opposed to controlled laboratory studies, uncertainties in this study related to airflow patterns, virus residence time, and dose to the collected virus introduce uncertainty into the inactivation estimates. This study is the first to directly demonstrate far-UVC anti-microbial efficacy against airborne pathogens in an occupied indoor location.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57441-z |
| spellingShingle | Manuela Buonanno Norman J. Kleiman David Welch Raabia Hashmi Igor Shuryak David J. Brenner 222 nm far-UVC light markedly reduces the level of infectious airborne virus in an occupied room Scientific Reports |
| title | 222 nm far-UVC light markedly reduces the level of infectious airborne virus in an occupied room |
| title_full | 222 nm far-UVC light markedly reduces the level of infectious airborne virus in an occupied room |
| title_fullStr | 222 nm far-UVC light markedly reduces the level of infectious airborne virus in an occupied room |
| title_full_unstemmed | 222 nm far-UVC light markedly reduces the level of infectious airborne virus in an occupied room |
| title_short | 222 nm far-UVC light markedly reduces the level of infectious airborne virus in an occupied room |
| title_sort | 222 nm far uvc light markedly reduces the level of infectious airborne virus in an occupied room |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57441-z |
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