UV light kills viruses. Why isn't it everywhere?

The promise and pitfalls of using light to stop germs.

When you think of disinfecting a space, what comes to mind? Wipes? Gels? Sprays? Maybe air purifiers or effective HVAC systems? All of these are great defenses against viruses and bacteria, but one thing has been missing from the toolkit despite our knowing about it for over a century: light.

Ultraviolet light is an incredibly powerful disinfectant. Study after study has proven that it can obliterate viruses and bacteria, and yet it’s not often thought about as a defense against germs. In fact, when most people think of UV, they think of the harmful rays from the sun that cause cancer — not the PR you want when advertising, obviously. Luckily, a few years after the pandemic lockdowns, researchers have found a type of UV that isn’t strong enough to penetrate human skin but still effectively stops the germs. Could it be our next defense? Check out the video above to learn more.

For more on ozone production (including Barber’s study):

The ill-fated mouse study (even though they didn’t get cancer this time, we’re still sad about it!):

The original study from 1937 can be found here:

For more on 1Day Sooner and Far UV Technologies:

[israrisrar]

"why isn't it everywhere?" Should be a docu series

[krishp]

My biggest fear getting a Far UV light bulb would be that manufacturers cut costs and ship defected UV lights that are harmful

[jimaaman]

"low wavelength" is a confusing way to say "short wavelength". It would seem less confusing to say "short" since the term "low frequency" is associated with long wavelengths (not short wavelengths like UV-C)

[sebastienwatling]

Another thing to be considered is that UV is EXTREMELY damaging to some materials such as plastics. there would be unexpected costs on paints, computers, appliances, Anything with plastic on it.

[GODZORA]

Vox unfortunately missed a few very important points to UV. HVAC Enginner here. For the last 100 years UV lights have largely been mercury lamps which have their own health risks. LED technology is getting there, but it hasn't got to the point of commercial usage. I am also surprised how much they glossed over how HVAC systems for non-residential often use UV for coil cleaning and you can add lights more to clean the air. I guess they simply don't understand you can add this to the airstream of 100% OA system and provide relatively clean air for building occupants. Also, you STILL need filtration and standard is to go with at least a MERV-13 filter as a final filter before entering most spaces. This is a 7min video but the fact they didn't talk more than a few words in this aspect of air treatment is mind boggling.

[thermitebanana]

"Low wavelength" is the weirdest expression, and I don't think I've heard it before.
Short wavelength - yes
Low frequency (which means LONG wavelength) also yes
Low wavelength - never

[kodakomp]

One of the biggest uses for UV light is in water/wastewater treatment. Was not mentioned at all. Helps with lowering the level of chlorine that is needed on water supplies drastically as you don't need as much to have a chlorine residual. Also the UV bulbs are secured in a vessel where it is not harmful to humans.

[Max_Ivanov_Pro]

I never realized how versatile and effective UV light can be for disinfection. It's amazing how many different applications it has!

[wllmsp]

I have a UV sterilization "box" for my CPAP equipment. One unmentioned problem is how BAD the UV sterilization process makes the tubing and other pieces smell. As it radiates microscopic stuff it causes the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This odor has been described as a sulfuric smell similar to rotten eggs, garlic, or burning hair. It's so nasty that I've reverted to cleaning with baking soda and non-scented dishwashing soap. So much for convenience.

[willemvandebeek]

The problem with UV light killing those bad viruses is, that 99.999% of the good microbes out there are killed as well...
Living in a too sterile environment is in the long term not healthy either.

[Tindog]

Sometime interesting is during the pandemic we were manufacturing some LED UV lights for the military, and a strange thing happened we found when we shined a UV light on oil it lost its stickiness and fell to the ground. It was super odd. We were all just like "Did you know UV light did that?" Not sure an application for that but it was an interesting thing that we didn't know UV did. As soon as you removed the light the oil returned to being sticky. Kinda weird to see, I'm sure there is probably an application here, but we were just trying to disinfect surfaces.

[Xanderviceory]

I use UV bulbs to eradicate mold in housing areas, works like a charm, just can't forget protective gear

[pabloesparza]

So look at the date I post this. This is something I have already commented on. The best 2 places this could be utilized would be in your refrigerator and in your bath/shower, not the entire bathroom. If you set those 2 locations up with a timer, you would get clean food that would last longer in the fridge and a shower that wouldn't grow pink/black patches. The negative side would be that the materials used in those locations would probably deteriorate a tiny bit faster, meaning that corporations would be happy. That's the offset foe getting the benefits of the light. Since it would come with a timer, you could also just choose not to use it as often. Point made here on this date money will be made later.

[jessetorres]

In the video game Dying Light 2, 1 way to survive against the zombie infection is to be near UV lights. It doesn't cure the characters of the zombie virus, but it does slow down the infection spreading in their bodies at night.

[DanielDogeanu]

Placing UV light barriers inside HVAC and filters seems far more effective to me than placing it directly into the room. Kind of like water sterilizers work.

[bennydreamly]

What about the good bacteria on your skin? and in the environment? What would that do?

[hanifarroisimukhlis]

Simple answer: it also hurts humans. Antiseptic don't really hurts (in small quantity).

[jtwrecks]

I have a UV light device with a proximity sensor that turns off if a human or pet is close to it. It's amazing

[ebridgewater]

Also keep in mind we don't want the general environment too clean. Our natural immune system is very important and needs to be trained.

[malinullberg]

UV IS widely used as disinfectant in drinking water treatment plants, since a few decades! Very good against bacteria and parasites, but less so viruses
/Process engineer for water systems