The Potential of Ultraviolet (UV) Light in the Fight Against the Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) has generated an unprecedented impact in most countries of the world. As of July 7^th 2020 the virus has affected almost every country on the planet (213 in total), spread to almost 12 million people, and caused around 544,000 deaths according to the WHO, 2020. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen 

The global pandemic has put not only the U.S. but the entire world in a state of shock. The current public health crisis has turned lives upside down and caused massive market uncertainty, leaving citizens around the world grasping for solutions and gasping for hope.

As facemasks, social distancing, a thorough hand washing routine, and hand sanitizers have become our new daily routine to help fight the outbreak, we are longing to find long term solutions. This virus has heightened our sense for the importance of public safety and hygiene. 

During this pandemic, where an effective vaccine and antiviral drugs are still lacking, disrupting the environmental transmission of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) is momentarily the only viable strategy to protect the public.

What many don’t know is that ultraviolet (UV) light has great potential to effectively kill the virus. 

Hospitals and laboratories have long used ultraviolet (UV) light to kill microbes. UV lights have been used in empty places such as operating rooms or under unoccupied lab hoods. 

What is UVC Light?

Ultraviolet (UV) light is a component of the electromagnetic spectrum that falls in the region between visible light and X-Rays. This invisible radiation includes the wavelength range of 100nm to 400nm.

UV light can be further subdivided into four categories

100nm to 200nm
Far UV or vaccum UV (these wavelengths only propagate in a vacuum)

200nm to 280nm
UVC - useful for disinfecting and sensing

280nm to 315nm
UVB - useful for curing, and medical applications

315nm to 400nm
UVA (or “near UV) - useful for printing, curing, lithography, sensing and medical applications

https://www.who.int/uv/faq/whatisuv/en/index2.html

How does UVC Disinfection work?

When biological organisms are exposed to deep UV light in the range of 200nm to 300nm it is absorbed by DNA, RNA and proteins. It disinfects by disrupting the molecular bonds that hold together microbial genetic material or proteins. The most commonly used lights have a wavelength of 254 nanometers (nm).

Absorption by proteins can lead to rupture of cell walls and death of the organism. Absorption by DNA or RNA is known to cause inactivation of the DNA or RNA double helix strands through the formation of thymine dimers. If enough of these dimers are created in DNA, the DNA replication process is disrupted, and the cell cannot replicate. A Cell that cannot replicate, cannot infect.

Transformation’s newest partner UVC Environmental Sanitation has realized the great potential, airborne and surface sanitation solutions provide, in reducing the risk from viruses, bacteria and molds.

The company is built upon the comprehensive model of minimizing risk and maximizing productivity with their sanitation products.

UVC is the most field tested and data backed method used both in circumstances of a primary line of defense in pandemics as well as a sterilization application for operating theaters. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25928547

UVC Environmental Sanitation relies on the traditional methods for air sanitation that have been used to kill viruses in hospitals, schools, pandemic field hospital facilities, clinics and food production plants.

Applying C-band ultraviolet (UV) light to inactivate DNA-based contaminants dates back to the 1850s. The company’s approach is an engineered solution used in HVAC systems.

The HVAC installation of UV lighting disinfects the air in a way where humans have no exposure, since it is mounted in the wall and positioned at least 7 feet above the ground.

UVC Environmental Sanitation offers the most comprehensive COVID19 eradication and maintenance manifest in the industry with the resources to pivot and scale as the situation demands.

Times of uncertainty are never comfortable but they can lead to great innovations. The widespread shutdowns may offer valuable lessons for the world we want to become after the pandemic.

Our purpose at Transformation is to create profitable impact investment strategies at the convergence of technology, agriculture, water, energy and healthcare.

Therefore, we define impact investing as a path where sustainability meets profitability - for the future and the present.