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It’s Time To Look More Seriously At UV-C Light Air Purification To Combat COVID-19

Worcester, MA and Palm Springs, CA– “It’s time to look more seriously at UV-C light air purification to help protect against airborne pathogens such as COVID-19, influenza, and pneumonia,” stated Dr. Bryan Stone, MD, Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Chief of Medicine Emeritus for Desert Regional Medical Center, and a member of Vystar Corporation’s (OTCQB: VYST) Board of Directors.

The scientific and medical communities, including the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), agree that the primary method of COVID-19 and influenza transmission is via airborne means.1, 2  The cleanest room is instantly contaminated the instant an infected person enters and breaths, speaks, coughs or sneezes. “While face masks and social distancing are good preventative measures, we need additional measures, such as UV-C light disinfection, to help prevent airborne transmission,” Dr. Stone observed.  “This is particularly true in severe cold weather areas where recommendations for socializing outdoors or opening windows for added ventilation for extended periods are not practical and/or possible.”

The CDC website “verifies that UV germicidal irradiation has been employed in the disinfection of drinking water, air, titanium implants, contact lenses  and in the healthcare environment (i.e., operating rooms, isolation rooms, and biologic safety cabinets) for both destruction of airborne organisms or inactivation of microorganisms on surfaces.”3

Dr. Stone warns, “It is extremely important to look for UV-C light air purifiers that are FDA-cleared as Class II Medical Devices, such as Vystar’s RxAir 400® and Rx3000® air purifiers.  These devices have been tested in EPA and FDA-certified laboratories as being effective and safe.  To be effective, units must use the correct UV-C bulb wavelength and intensity and keep the air in close enough proximity to the bulbs for the necessary duration.  Many devices that quickly pass air over small, low intensity UV lights are not effective and can give a false sense of security that puts users at risk.” 

How does UV-C light work on COVID-19? – Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID 19, are RNA viruses enveloped in a lipid bilayer. 4  UV-C light in the 254 nm wavelength inactivates lipid viruses by damaging their DNA and RNA genetic material.4,5,6,7,8  UV light’s germicidal effectiveness is influenced by UV intensity, which is affected by distance.4 

How does RxAir UV-C Light Air Purification work? —The RxAir UV-C light air purifier is uniquely effective because its patented “kill chamber” forces the air to spiral in close proximity around the three 10-inch UV-C tubes for an extended period of time, ensuring the proper 254 nm wavelength dosage for maximum microbicidal activity. 4, 6 , 9, 10, 11

RxAir air purifiers are portable standalone units designed for use in a single room of a home, classroom, office, healthcare facility, restaurant or business.  They can be valuable supplements to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems by providing rooms with much higher ACH rates than the HVAC system while inactivating, rather than trapping, the pathogens.

Dr. Stone noted, “RxAir devices also reduce the number of active pathogens dropping onto surfaces, thus reducing risk of contact transmission.  Another significant advantage is that RxAir UVC air purifiers function free of the chemicals, smells and residues that result from spray disinfectants.” 

Is UV light safe? —UV light is a known carcinogen that can harm the eyes and skin from just moments of direct exposure.  RxAir protects consumers from exposure to the UV light by enclosing the bulbs within the unit.  RxAir is completely safe for major reduction in ambient level of airborne coronaviruses in occupied spaces.  This is a major contrast to UV-C robot- or ceiling- mounted unshielded UV-C lights that can only be used in vacant rooms.

UV-C Light and Indoor Air Quality —Research shows that in addition to viruses and bacteria, allergenic pollens, mold, fungi and harmful pollutants contribute to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) that causes respiratory and heart disease, cancer, difficulty breathing, headaches, dizziness, and asthma.12  RxAir UV-C light air purifiers have been proven effective against harmful viral and bacterial pathogens (including multiple coronaviruses, H1N1, MRSA, pneumonia, strep, TB, measles, influenza, and the common cold), molds, and fungi in addition to neutralizing odors, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and other indoor pollutants 5, 6, 7.

Supplementary vs Primary Disinfection — The CDC currently recognizes UV-C light disinfection as a supplementary disinfection method,4 but that may change.  Dr. Stone projected, “Just as the CDC recently began to acknowledge that Coronavirus SARS CoV-2 has airborne transmission, I believe they will recognize UV-C light as a primary disinfection method in occupied spaces.”

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