UV light is finding a place for itself to prevent from catching SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 causing virus. Though it is not a new concept as the International Ultraviolet Association has been saying that it is being used since 40 years to clean water and air, but in the case of corona virus this concept is catching light fast.
People are looking at ultraviolet light as “nature’s hand sanitizer,” to sanitize as the market is falling short to supply man-made hand sanitizer. Researchers have said that many consumer devices have always used UV light to disinfect things. For example the self-cleaning UV light water bottles and UV-emitting cases that clean dirty/ infected phone.
There are man-made sources of UV light, that includes the tanning beds people use and UV disinfection lamps that have recently gained popularity. The UV light sanitizers making companies are now claiming that the sanitizer can kill the coronavirus. The National Academy of Sciences has also affirmed the same. They said that the UV light has been used to disinfect surfaces and water for a long time, successfully so probably even this is true.
It is being said that as UV-C light is strong enough to destroy the genetic material — either DNA or RNA — of viruses and bacteria, then probably the sun exposure can also kill the coronavirus. The UV light has destroyed the deadly Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome coronavirus, aka MERS-CoV and severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, or SARS.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s website reads that “UV light has been shown to destroy other coronaviruses, so it will probably work on the novel coronavirus.”
The doctors say that as UV light devices aren’t cheap so it is not a disinfectant for every one and also the UV light device should not be a substitute for hand washing, mask-wearing and distancing.
Kamalpreet Singh
Working as a freelance contributor for several news platforms over the years, Kamalpreet has a well-thriving interest in the education sector. Kamalpreet heads at the post of editor at BO Herald and he contributes his knowledge and expertise in reporting Education News.
