A new type of ultraviolet light can efficiently kill airborne microbes, such as those which cause COVID-19, a study has found after successful trials.
The result suggests that this light, known as Far-UVC, could be used to significantly reduce the risk of person-to-person indoor transmission of hospital-acquired infections as well as airborne diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza.
Published in Nature Scientific Reports, the research carried out by the Universities of Leeds, St Andrews, Dundee and Columbia University in New York with NHS Tayside is the first study to measure the performance of Far-UVC under full-scale conditions.
The researchers released an aerosolised bacteria known to be harder to inactivate than the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19, into a room-sized chamber and then tested the level of microbial reduction when it was exposed to the Far-UVC light.
Reduced levels
The trials, held at a bioaerosol facility at the University of Leeds, found that Far-UVC light rapidly and continuously reduced levels of airborne microbes with a 92% – 98% reduction recorded even when the bacteria aerosol was continuously introduced.
Dr Louise Fletcher, of Leeds’ School of Civil Engineering, said: “Our bioaerosol facility at Leeds provides a unique environment for this type of research.
“The facility is a sealed chamber the size of a single-occupancy hospital room where different types of building ventilation and devices can be implemented to test the potential effectiveness of approaches like Far-UVC in a full-scale situation.”
The study was led by the University of St Andrews. Dr Kenneth Wood, from the School of Physics and Astronomy. He said: “Our trials produced spectacular results, far exceeding what is possible with ventilation alone or using conventional filter-based air cleaners.
“In terms of preventing airborne transmission, Far-UVC lights could make indoor places as safe as being outside on the golf course at St Andrews.”
Killing all COVID-19 varients
Dr David Brenner, of the University of Columbia in New York, said: “We now know that Far-UVC light is superbly efficient at killing airborne microbes. And based on our earlier studies we have very strong evidence that is will be equally good at killing all the COVID-19 variants, past, present and future, as well as the “old fashioned viruses” like influenza and measles.
“So, by simply adding UV light to the conventional lighting in indoor rooms, we can quickly kill all the airborne viruses in the room and so protect ourselves against person-to-person indoor disease transmission.”
The team received a grant of £136,000 from the UK Health Security Agency to carry out the trials - and they will continue their research into the safety and efficacy of Far-UVC lights through two recently awarded grants totalling £270,000 from the UK Health Security Agency and NHS Scotland Assure.
The results coincide with a decision by the US agency which decides on safety regulations for UV light, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, to increase the allowable Far-UVC light exposure in the US seven-fold.
Further information
For more information, contact David Lewis in the Press Office at the University of Leeds by email on pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk.