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Germicidal UV could make airborne diseases as rare as those carried by water

(www.worksinprogress.news)
118 points venkii | 2 comments | 22 Sep 25 21:44 UTC | HN request time: 0.558s | source
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toast0 ◴[23 Sep 25 06:20 UTC] No.45343417[source]▶
Seems like this has potential, but uv exposure is potentially problematic to humans, and definitely problematic to man surfaces and some plants.

Limiting the wavelength helps with humans, but adds a lot of cost.

It might be effective to have a box that draws in air (with a fan, most likely) and the UV source shines within. The inputs and outputs would need to have a few turns and have surface treatments to reduce the amount of uv ligh that can escape. You would have some fan noise though.

replies(1): >>45343527 #
1. mahrain ◴[23 Sep 25 06:36 UTC] No.45343527[source]▶
This is correct and such systems do exist, sometimes combined with sources of ions and HEPA filters. However if you're already drawing air out of the room, it's easier to just filter it with HEPA than dealing with the additional complexity of UV lights (deterioration, energy consumption, replacement).
replies(1): >>45344031 #
2. schiffern ◴[23 Sep 25 07:50 UTC] No.45344031[source]▶
HEPA filters also have deterioration, energy consumption (pressure drop ain't free), and replacement.

HEPA is a mature technology with no big improvement curve, but UV treatment is seeing progress.