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UV Devices Could Keep Indoor Air Free of Viruses

nature.com

31–40 of 72 posts

Re: UV Devices Could Keep Indoor Air Free of Viruses

#31
post #26
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s not an option for most climates.

Yes it is. I used to ventillate my room in Uni when it was way past -20 C outside. As long as you have decent heating it is not a big deal if you do it periodically.

Provided you live in a place where heating is generally clean.

Over here it's 4°C at the time of writing and my air filter goes crazy if I open the window.

Re: UV Devices Could Keep Indoor Air Free of Viruses

#34
post #4

When you talk to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) most are uncomfortable with UV. Reason being that while you can get rid of viruses, you can also create volatile compounds. Our homes' air is like a soup of natural and synthetic chemicals. From your flooring wear to your decor off-gassing to cooking, there are elements in your air that may be safe as they are, but they can completely change when they hit something volatile l…

When you mention decor off-gasing, is this the whole thing about off-gasing fire retardant chemical treatments? Or did you mean another source in household stuff?

Re: UV Devices Could Keep Indoor Air Free of Viruses

#35
I haven't seen one of the main arguments against UV efficiency in the context of an HVAC system.

Most common UV solutions simply cannot clean at the speed the air goes through the systems in most buildings. When you have to maintain 6 air changes per hour, the UV solutions are simply not manageable.

There are other limitations but that's the main issue as far as I can tell talking to facility managers.

Re: UV Devices Could Keep Indoor Air Free of Viruses

#36
post #9
post #4

When you talk to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) most are uncomfortable with UV. Reason being that while you can get rid of viruses, you can also create volatile compounds. Our homes' air is like a soup of natural and synthetic chemicals. From your flooring wear to your decor off-gassing to cooking, there are elements in your air that may be safe as they are, but they can completely change when they hit something volatile l…

My uncle has ozone generators in his home. One of them is industrial strength and he only runs it when he is leaving his house for awhile. Does ozone produce by products? I vaguely recall hospitals used ozone to clean n95 masks.

Ozone is used in some hospitals, but in fairly intense concentrations and in unoccupied rooms, generally.

UV, Ozone and vaporized hydrogen peroxide are all used to some extent. None of them in ways I'd recommend for the home.

Re: UV Devices Could Keep Indoor Air Free of Viruses

#37

If this is used inside homes and offices, how does one train their immune system, which requires constant low level exposure to foreign entities?

Your immune system is challenged thousands upon thousands of times a day. Clean air won't leave you compromised.

Re: UV Devices Could Keep Indoor Air Free of Viruses

#38
post #26
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s not an option for most climates.

Yes it is. I used to ventillate my room in Uni when it was way past -20 C outside. As long as you have decent heating it is not a big deal if you do it periodically.

Assuming that the air outside is fresh and not a thick mess of coal smoke like in many places.

Re: UV Devices Could Keep Indoor Air Free of Viruses

#39
I find the obsession with having a sterile environment ridiculous. Our bodies themselves are teeming with microbes and viruses, actually our bodies contain more of them than our own human cells. They play an important role in our digestive system, as well as our metabolism and also keeping our immune system on its guard.

What needs to be done is not to eliminate those actors, but rather to make our bodies resilient to potentiel pathogens.

Re: UV Devices Could Keep Indoor Air Free of Viruses

#40
post #39

I find the obsession with having a sterile environment ridiculous. Our bodies themselves are teeming with microbes and viruses, actually our bodies contain more of them than our own human cells. They play an important role in our digestive system, as well as our metabolism and also keeping our immune system on its guard. What needs to be done is not to eliminate those actors, but rather to make our bodies resilient t…

For viruses sure, but other things like air filters make sense. Nothing good comes from breathing combustion engine exhaust or gas stove combustion byproducts.

If you live anywhere near a coal mine or power plant you are also getting a good dose of radioactive dust although I’m not sure a hepa filter is good enough there.

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