We live in the midst of disease-causing microbes, or pathogens. Technologies that reduce or inactivate pathogens are useful in the fight against public health problems such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria and pandemics. One of the emerging technologies is far-UV light at 222 nm. It penetrates only the surface layers of the skin or eyes and does not penetrate deeper into living tissue, so it could be an effective way to kill microbes without harmful effects on the body. The proteins of many viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, have an absorption spectrum with a peak at around 220-230 nm. These viruses strongly absorb light at 222 nm, which inactivates the virus and its ability to infect and spread disease. Far-UV light can be used, for example, to disinfect objects and surfaces. During the coronavirus pandemic, Yle reported on far-UV lamps that had been deployed in Helsinki and Vaasa, for example, to combat the coronavirus in grocery stores.
Far-UV light has been shown to be effective in the fight against pathogens. Several studies showed that the use of light can significantly reduce the number of microbes in a short exposure time. 222 nm far-UV light does not cause significant acute adverse effects on the skin or eyes when used correctly. To reduce harm, devices use filters to prevent the emission of harmful wavelengths. To ensure safety, it is important to comply with exposure limits that define safe radiation doses for humans. Far-UV light is a promising alternative and complement to traditional disinfection methods. It can be an effective means of microbial control in public spaces and healthcare environments without significant risks when safety standards are taken into account.
WANDER's ERISTEK project, which started in the autumn, focuses on breaking the chain of transmission of diseases from humans and animal care equipment to animal production facilities by developing and applying new technologies for disease control. Disinfective far-UV lighting is one of the solutions and research areas for improving hygiene in the indoor environment of animal care.
