Towards a Healthy Car: UVC LEDs in an Automobile’s HVAC Demonstrates Effective Disinfection of Cabin Air

Vehicle Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can accumulate recirculate highly infectious respiratory diseases via aerosols. Integrating Ultraviolet Subtype C (UVC) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to complement automobile HVAC protect occupants from developing allergies, experiencing inflammatory problems, or acquiring by inactivating pathogenic organisms. UVC add little no static pressure with minimal space, unlike mercury lamps which are larger heavier. Additionally, LEDs effective at low voltage have glass. While previous experiments shown LED technology reduce bacteriophage Phi6 concentrations 1 log in 5 min (selected as the average time clean cabin air), those studies had not positioned within itself studied susceptibility of surrogate specific wavelength. This study aimed assess disinfection performance automotive determine dose–response curve for Phi6, a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate. To achieve this, were installed car system. inactivation efficacy, model chamber 3.5 m3, replicating typical volume car, containing modified system was filled turned on without being on. The results revealed that complemented reduced levels significantly more than alone viral concentration 90% reduction less min. after is expected be better against because its higher sensitivity UVC, especially lower wavelengths (below 270 nm). could 15 Applying inside an means quickly reducing number aerosolized particles chamber, microorganisms leading improved quality.