Far-UVC

What is far-UVC?

Far-UVC is a form of low-wavelength electromagnetic radiation in the 200-230nm wavelength band. Wall- and ceiling-mounted far-UVC emitters can rapidly kill bacteria and viruses in the air and on surfaces, with minimal apparent safety risks for human occupants.

Why is it promising?

Far-UVC's ability to rapidly inactivate pathogens, without posing health risks to humans, makes it a highly promising technology for reducing pathogen transmission in indoor environments. Sufficiently intense far-UVC could drastically suppress transmission via ambient pathogens in the air, and potentially even via large respiratory droplets passing between people in conversation. Widespread adoption of far-UVC in workplaces and other indoor spaces could pre-emptively suppress almost any future respiratory pandemic.

What has SecureBio done?

Before far-UVC can fulfill this potential, further research is needed, including additional high-quality safety studies. In 2022, SecureBio led efforts to develop a coordinated research plan to address these needs. We convened almost two dozen world-leading experts on the photobiological effects on skin and eyes for a series of meetings and workshops. We subsequently released an in-depth review and research plan to guide future investigations on the safety of far-UVC as a pandemic-suppressing technology.

Learn more

  1. Assessing the safety of new germicidal far-UVC technologies

    Görlitz et al. (2023)
    – Photochemistry & Photobiology 00: 1-20

  2. Far UV-C radiation: An emerging tool for pandemic control

    Blatchley et al. (2022)
    – Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 53 : 733-753

  3. Far-UVC light (222 nm) efficiently and safely inactivates airborne human coronaviruses

    Buonanno et al. (2020)
    – Scientific Reports 10 : 10285

  4. Germicidal Efficacy and Mammalian Skin Safety of 222-nm UV Light

    Buonanno et al. (2017)
    – Radiation Research 187 : 493-501

  5. Far UV-C Radiation: Current State of Knowledge

    International Ultraviolet Association (2021)

  6. We Have the Technology to Stop Superspreading Without Masks

    Milton K, Nardell E, Michaels D (2022)
    – New York Times

  7. Far-UVC light: A new tool to control the spread of airborne-mediated microbial diseases

    Welch et al. (2018)
    – Scientific Reports 8 : 2752