The question of air purification
Is it possible that air purifying technologies might assist neutralizing not only germs and viruses in high concentration, but also areas where there is a risk of the shedding of spike proteins from newly injected? In that sense this post is not related to the food and supplements, but to the quality of the air.
I don't know what it takes to deactivate spike proteins moving around, but I focus on two, and mostly the dangers, of UVC and ozone. Some lamps have sensors that shut off if a person or animal enters the room and comes close, that reduces the risks.
Different technologies to purify the air included in this
list are:
- Fibrous Media [e.g: HEPA]
- UV Light
- Ozone
- Plasma
- Photocatalytic Oxidation
- Electrostatic precipitators
- Ionizers
- Adsorbent Media [e.g: Activated Charcoal
- Chemisorbant Media
UVC and ozone
At least two technologies can be harmful and not only to microscopic lifeforms, like viruses.
UVC light is often used to disinfect, or in some instances to create ozone, which then disinfects. UVC light is a range of the electromagnetic spectrum between 100-280 nm, An
illustration shows:
Wavelengths below 240 nm (according to
Phillips) produce ozone, while the US EPA sets the limit higher and requires shading of wavelengths below 254 nm. A reviewer writes in an
intro to ozone free purifiers:
Ozone is a highly reactive gas that has the ability to change the chemical makeup of air pollutants when the two come into contact, therefore neutralizing the pollutant. According to the
EPA, inhaling ozone, even in relatively low quantities can cause:
- Chest pain
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Throat irritation.
It’s less of an issue than it was 10 years ago as regulations were brought into place to limit the amount of ozone purifiers could emit, but there are still many air purifiers on the market that emit ozone gas in order to remove pollutants from the air. It’s worth noting that there are situations that do require the use of Ozone but they are not in home units but commercial units for specific jobs – we produce a list of the
best ozone generators that are worth checking out if you think you need that capability.
It is however possible to buy small lamps that generate ozone. The
Wiki about the safety of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, writes:
Safety[edit]
To humans[edit]
Warning for optical radiation applies to devices that emit UV light.
UV light is hazardous to most living things. Skin exposure to germicidal wavelengths of UV light can produce rapid sunburn and skin cancer. Exposure of the eyes to this UV radiation can produce extremely painful inflammation of the
cornea and temporary or permanent
vision impairment, up to and including
blindness in some cases.
[15] Common precautions are:
[16]
- Warning labels warn humans about dangers of UV light. In home settings with children and pets, doors are additionally necessary.
- Interlock systems. Shielded systems where the light is blocked inside, such as a closed water tank or closed air circulation system, often has interlocks that automatically shut off the UV lamps if the system is opened for access by humans. Clear viewports that block UVC are available.
- Protective gear. Most protective eyewear (in particular, all ANSI Z87.1-compliant eyewear) block UVC. Clothing, plastics, and most types of glass (but not fused silica) are effective in blocking UVC.[17]
Another potential danger is the UV production of
ozone, which can be harmful when inhaled. The US Environmental Protection Agency designated 0.05
parts per million (ppm) of ozone to be a safe level.
Lamps designed to release UV and higher frequencies are doped so that any UV light below 254 nm wavelengths will not be released, to minimize ozone production. A full-spectrum lamp will release all UV wavelengths and produce ozone when UV-C hits oxygen (O2) molecules.[
citation needed]
[...something about dangers to vision, upper limits etc...]
To items[
edit]
UVC radiation is able to break down chemical bonds. This leads to
rapid aging of plastics, insulation, gaskets, and other materials. Note that plastics sold to be "UV-resistant" are tested only for the lower-energy UVB since UVC does not normally reach the surface of the Earth.[20] When UV is used near plastic, rubber, or insulation, these materials may be protected by metal tape or aluminum foil.
The last point in the quote about items of plastic being susceptible to UVC is good to know, but is it of much practical significance? I looked at some lamps, and one can get some with timers that are only active for 15, 30 or 60 minutes. One example is this
lamp, which also mentions:
Warning: When using this lamp, do not look directly at the working lightbulb. Long-term UV radiation can burn human and animal skin and damage the eyes. Avoid touching the lamp tube, it could reduce the life of the lamp. People / pets / plants cannot be exposed to UVC light and must leave the room when the lamp is working. An ozone generating lamp generates ozone gas which has a strong offensive odor. Do not go in for an hour after turning off lights and opening windows to ventilate the area.
Perhaps the efficiency of some lamps and air purifiers are overrated, or is it just that the following research wanted quick action within 10 minutes:
A paper about experiments in the disinfection of items like masks through ozone
In the Journal of Science and Medicine
there was: Ozone Gas: Scientific Justification and Practical Guidelines for Improvised Disinfection using Consumer-Grade Ozone Generators and Plastic Storage Boxes conducted by
Robert Dennis Ph.D.;
Avery Cashion Ph.D.;
Steven Emanuel MSE &
Devin Hubbard Ph.D.
They estimate that one needs around 10-20 ppm of ozone for a period of about 10 minutes to effectively disinfect an item. These number can then be compared with the EPA limit of 0.05 ppm. They write:
Ozone can be easily used to make an improvised disinfection box system using inexpensive and readily available components. The ozone concentrations necessary for effective virucidal inactivation remain sparsely reported, but have been estimated for this application, based upon extrapolations of the available scientific data. The required ozone concentrations of 10 to 20 ppm are easily achieved and maintained for the necessary period of at least 10 minutes by continuous or intermittent operation of the ozone generator. There are important safety and health factors to consider when using ozone, but otherwise we conclude that it can be used widely, ion a large scale, as an improvised disinfectant, specifically for inactivating viruses.
The same paper has suggestion on how to build an ozone disinfection box. They also say that it works best by getting a dedicated ozone generator. If you are interested then this guy explains some uses but with focus on precautions:
Dangers of an Ozone Generator, though it sounds he is more into house restoration than health maintenance. If one needs an ozone sensor too, then there is a review
here.
On
this site advocating for the ActivePure® technology they use what they call
Radiant Catalytic Ionization. A
Russian site explains it involves the production of hydroxyl radicals, hydroxy groups, hydroperoxides, super oxides, ozone ions and ozone. The specs say the limit for the unit is 0.04 ppm of ozone, or below the EPA level. The other compounds also have effects, and that is probably why it is held to be effective.
It remains of course also a question if one always wants a super sterile environment, as one might then be more susceptible when moving into spaces where there are many more microorganisms. It would depend on the place and the situation. Is the current one of those where a slightly cleaner air might make a difference for some people?
www.sott.net
