3 ms·

This is the best article I found after a quick search: https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/far-uvc-light-safely-kills-airborne-coronaviruses https://www.cuimc.c

by nkurz 6y ago

This is the best article I found after a quick search: https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/far-uvc-light-safely-kills-airborne-coronaviruses https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/far-uvc-light-safely-kil... It says that "Based on their results, the researchers estimate that continuous exposure to far-UVC light at the current regulatory limit would kill 90% of airborne viruses in about 8 minutes, 95% in about 11 minutes, 99% in about 16 minutes, and 99.9% in about 25 minutes." I don't know how the "regulatory limit" compares to sunlight. Also, this is for seasonal coronaviruses rather than specifically SARS-CoV-2, and it's for airborne particles rather than masks. Maybe someone can find something more specific?

dragontamer 6y ago
UV-C is deadly and cancerous, even to humans. Fortunately, the Ozone layer blocks UV-C. Unfortunately, that means there's no UV-C on earth's sunlight. (There's plenty of UV-C in space, before the atmosphere blocked it) The sunlight is mostly UV-A, with little bits of UV-B. ------- I would assume that UV-C lights are regulated, because its so dangerous. So the "edge of regulatory limits" would be whats legally allowed. Either way, UV-C is not present on sunlight at the Earth's surface, and therefore incomparable as a comparison point. UV-C is a useful disinfectant when generated by UV-C lights. But you need to be careful not to touch humans with it, since it provably causes cancer. Most UV-C generators I've seen are inside of boxes of some kind: you place an item inside of the box, close the box, and turn on the UV-C generator.