Ultraviolet rays are radiation, which are the rays that are used to kill harmful germs and diseases. It is more powerful and has high energy than visible light and radioactive waves. However, they are less effective than gamma rays and X-rays. Nowadays, to protect yourself from viruses like ultraviolet, people are using UVC disinfection lamp.
In this article, you will read some myths and facts about UVC light and some points that will tell you how necessary is UVC light to prevent viruses’ effects.
Types of UV light
There are different kinds of UVC light found that are divided based on the energy they emit in the surrounding.
UVA light is the light that possesses the lowest amount of energy and interacts with your skin daily. You are mainly exposed to it when you are outside in the sunlight. Moreover, it causes damage to your skin at a low scale, causing aging and damaging to the skin at a low rate.
UVB light is the main factor that causes sunburns and causes skin cancer and is in significantly less amount in the sunlight. It is placed in the middle of the UV light spectrum.
UVC light is absorbed in the earth’s ozone and has the most energy. It is the less common light that we are exposed to among UVA and UVB. Moreover, it is obtained from human-made material like UVC disinfection lamp.
Does UVC light affect the new coronavirus?
Some research will determine whether the UVC light can prevent the new coronavirus. It is found out that
UVC light for disinfecting liquids
It can prevent viruses if it is directly exposed to the virus as it will inactivate the virus in 9 minutes.
UVC light for disinfecting surfaces
UVC light kills viruses on laboratory surfaces, as it reduced the activated coronavirus’s effect by 99.7 percent in 30 seconds If the UVC light has wavelengths up to 207 and 222 nanometers. The Far-UVC light is beneficial to kill the activated viruses. However, it can cause skin and eye disease and cancer.
UVC light for disinfecting the air
The UVC can also kill the air’s viruses, which can cause cold in humans 229E and OC43.
Ways to kill the new coronavirus through UVC light
As the coronavirus rate increases in most regions, the UVC light is in more demand and is a useful option to sterilize and kill germs. These UVC disinfection lamps are used for various purposes, mostly in healthcare centers, to prevent the activated viruses. It can disinfect things like:
Surfaces or the health care centers
medical equipment
operating rooms
individual defensive gear (PPE, for example, N95 face covers
The downsides to UVC light
drawbacks of these UVC light are that it needs a direct exposure of light to have effective operations and function to kill the virus. Otherwise, it will not be that much useful if dust or shadow come across.
Despite being beneficial to kill the virus, it has some additional drawbacks and risk for using them at your houses, such as
No specific wavelength, dose, and exposure of the UVC light have been found to kill the virus. If a high amount is exposed to humans, it can cause damage to the skin.
A high amount of exposure can lead to skin and eye damage.
The UVC light used at home has very low intensity, so it is not that effective and takes a longer time to kill bacteria and viruses.
UVC light lights can contain mercury or produce ozone, the two of which can be hurtful to people.
It can affect your appliances made from plastic, polymer if the UVC light exposure is prolonged.
Myths about UV light and temperature
There are some myths about the effect of UVC light on coronavirus. Let take a gander at a portion of the legends:
The first myth is that Sun contact can protect you from the coronavirus. The statement is a myth as sunlight comprises UVB and UVA light mostly, and it contains significantly less amount of UV light, which helps to inactive the virus.
The second most common myth about the virus is that keeping yourself prolonged in a UVC lamp can prevent you from the coronavirus. It is beneficial because UV light is directly exposed, and the lamp doesn’t contain that much UV intensity. If your UVC lamp stays for a longer duration, it can cause skin and eye infections and burns, and irritation.
The third myth is that if you sit in a hot bath, it may prevent the virus. This statement is not true as it can cause scaling and burning to your skin.
The fourth myth is that using hot air from a dryer containing UVC light can prevent the virus. It is not possible because of low-intensity, and if you sanitize your hand, use soap and sanitizer rather than the hot air.
Facts about preventing the coronavirus
To kill the virus, take this necessary precaution rather than following the myths.
Stay at your home and keep your distance from each other.
Wear the mask and always sanitize and wash your hands properly.
Drink ample amount of water.
By following these precautions, you can prevent the virus from nitrating to your body rather than following the myths mentioned above. To sum up, the UVC light turns out to be beneficial in lowering the virus’s effect. However, people need to take all the precautions and its use as alone the UV light can not stop the virus’s impact.
Besides all the benefits, the UVC light is harmful, directly exposed, and causes skin and eye problems, so be careful. Also, no one knows the intensity and duration required of UVC light to disinfect the coronavirus, and the UV light varies depending on the weather, time of day, where in the world you live, and the season. So, don’t experiment and use it for a prolonged time.