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Thread: Coronavirus and UV

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    Master OptiBoarder rbaker's Avatar
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    Coronavirus and UV

    As society hunkers down in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus, people are taking stringent precautions to keep themselves from catching the disease, including self-quarantining and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces. As such, hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, and other disinfectants are currently in short supply.

    With man-made sanitizers in limited supply, many are turning to nature’s disinfectant: ultraviolet light. UV irradiation has long been used to sterilize objects and rooms, so it makes sense to wonder: Can UV light kill coronavirus?


    If you’ve ever gotten a sunburn, you’ve had a taste of how UV light kills viruses: UV light can damage DNA. A DNA molecule is made of two strands bound together by four bases, adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). These bases are like an alphabet, and their sequence forms instructions for cells to reproduce.


    UV light can cause thymine bases to fuse together, scrambling the DNA sequence and essentially throwing a wrench into the machinery. Since the DNA sequence is no longer correct, it can no longer replicate properly. This is how UV light annihilates viruses, by destroying their ability to reproduce.


    COVID-19 is a new breed, and as such there is a dearth of studies on its resistance to UV. That hasn’t stopped people from rolling out UV devices to thwart the virus, however. Companies that produce UV devices are seeing a notable boost in sales, and hospitals are using UV-equipped robots to disinfect hospital rooms; even face masks are getting the UV treatment

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    Do you think my Transition oven will work as a sanitizer on my N95 mask?

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    One eye sees, the other feels OptiBoard Silver Supporter
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    Don't use UV on living tissue.

    Protect your eyes.

    Robert
    Science is a way of trying not to fool yourself. - Richard P. Feynman

    Experience is the hardest teacher. She gives the test before the lesson.



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    Quote Originally Posted by Pdarnall View Post
    Do you think my Transition oven will work as a sanitizer on my N95 mask?
    what temp does it run at?

    https://stanfordmedicine.app.box.com/v/covid19-PPE-1-2

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    Master OptiBoarder rbaker's Avatar
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    As I recall, many years ago, (late 1940's) my barber had this new gizmo on the counter in his shop. It looked like on of these toaster ovens with a window on the front and a blue light inside.He kept all of the tools of his trade inside. When he finished using a comb he put it inside and closed the door. Of course I had to inquire why he kept all his stuff in there and he explained that the Commonwealth and the Barbers Union had mandated these devices to cut down on "barbers itch" which was some form of dermatitis transmitted in tonsorial establishments.

    Maybe this would be a hygienic measure for the frames on your boards.

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    Master OptiBoarder rbaker's Avatar
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    OptiBoard Professional RT's Avatar
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    If all it took was the UV-A generated by a Transitions demonstrator kit to kill the coronavirus, then just walking outside would also kill it.
    Unless the device specifically says that it generates UV-C, it likely will not be effective. I'm not a scientist but I do remember the UV ranges:

    UVA(315-400 nm)
    UVB (280-315 nm)
    UVC (100-280 nm)
    RT

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