A Blueprint for the Use of Far-UVC to Suppress Airborne Transmission and Prevent Future Pandemics
Richard Williamson, JAMES MONTAVON, Rose Hadshar, Harry Koos, Jacob Swett,
Blueprint Biosecurity Abstract Number: 221
Working Group: Bioaerosols
AbstractOur forthcoming summary, technical evaluation, and roadmap for far-UVC disinfection of aerosolized pathogens disentangles the challenges and uncertainties across technical domains, and synthesizes them into a research program addressing key scientific, technological, and sociological uncertainties.
We performed extensive literature reviews and over 100 semi-structured interviews across multiple fields, including disinfection efficacy, photobiological safety, and atmospheric chemistry. These were complemented by parametric modeling based on the Wells-Riley infection risk framework to quantify and contextualize our assessments.
Our findings prioritize immediate research on far-UVC's real-world efficacy for pathogen inactivation and transmission suppression. We demonstrate that equivalent clean airflow targets for infection risk management (ECAi) recommended by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 241 ought to be achievable for some airborne pathogens of public health concern. However, this analysis is highly sensitive to current uncertainties in inactivation efficiency and the fluence rates realistically achievable within photobiological safety limits. Suppressing highly transmissible pathogens over longer periods of exposure may require ECAi in excess of existing recommendations.
Further uncertainties exist in several domains, including how photochemical reactions affect materials and other common indoor chemicals, whether exposure limits need modification for particularly vulnerable groups, and the effects of disinfection on the beneficial elements of the indoor microbiome. We outline areas that require additional research prior to widespread implementation.
Our work elucidates a multidisciplinary research program for the application and development of far-UVC technology. Continued interdisciplinary studies and advancements are essential to address the identified uncertainties and to integrate far-UVC solutions into public health strategies for safer indoor environments and pandemic prevention.
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