Dr. Hiroki Ohge, Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, Hiroshima University Hospital, and a group of researchers led by Dr. Takemasa Sakaguchi, Professor, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, have completed a research study that demonstrates that irradiation with filtered 222nm UV-C light effectively reduces SARS-CoV-2 in an in vitro experiment.
This is the first study on the efficacy of 222nm UV-C light against SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. The research paper regarding this study is published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
In this study, Ushio’s Care222 UV-C module was placed 24 cm above the surface of the plates in which the viral samples were placed. The radiation intensity at the surface of the plates was 0.1 mW/cm2. The study showed that 3 mJ/cm2 of 222nm light resulted in at least a 99.7% reduction of viable SARS-CoV-2 samples.
The researchers concluded that the study demonstrated the effectiveness of 222nm UVC irradiation on SARS-CoV-2. The researchers further noted that the results suggest that the 222nm UV-C technology could be used for infection prevention and control against COVID-19 both in occupied and unoccupied spaces, while acknowledging further research is needed to study effectiveness in a real-world setting.
Ushio’s Care222 module emits filtered 222nm UV-C, which blocks wavelengths above 230+ nm that are considered hazardous. These modules will be incorporated into select Acuity Brands general lighting luminaires in a strategic partnership deal.
