While work on the first issue of 2022 is underway, we paused to see which UV Solutions articles from 2021 caught the eyes of our readers. The following stories were the top reads from 2021 for visitors to the website.
1. SARS-CoV-2 Dose Response Research Update
Since its emergence in 2019, SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, has had a global impact. Solutions for controlling the virus are urgently needed to reduce its spread, and UV light is known to inactivate all pathogens given a sufficient dose. The UV dose response of SARS-CoV-2 is needed to effectively apply this technology and fight the pandemic. The article reviews the status of research into the dose response relationship, covering published data from numerous sources.
2. Overview of Safety and Efficacy of UV-C Devices for Inactivation of the Novel Coronavirus
Ultraviolet energy in the UV-C band has been shown to be effective against various germs and viruses, with decades of associated scientific study. The FDA has commented that UV-C radiation may be effective in inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus. At the start of the pandemic, there was an assumption UV-C would kill the virus. That assumption has turned into a near certainty.
3. EPA Takes Aim at Purification Devices
Demand has grown for air filters and purifiers, including those that use ultraviolet (UV) light technology – products that the United States Environmental Protection Agency typically has regulated as pesticide devices under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).
4. Use of Fluoropolymers in UV Sterilization Equipment
In an increasingly regulated and safety-conscious world, the threat of contamination is ever growing. As a result, UV sterilization equipment is becoming more and more important for the medical, pharmaceutical, and food and drink industries. Used to help disinfect drinking water, sterilize food contact surfaces and hospital equipment, and diagnose a range of medical conditions, fluoroethylene propylene (FEP) is variable in production of components for UV sterilization equipment.
5. Lighting Up the Meat Sector for Enhanced Safety and Extended Shelf Life
Global meat consumption increased 40% in 2020 compared to 2019. This is a staggering statistic, a rare area of economic expansion during the pandemic business contraction. Although meat substitutes appear to be gaining inroads into the market, the reality is that the global value of the meat sector is a $1.2 trillion business, with forecasted increase of 8% over the next five years. Any deviation from this trajectory is a tough sell; meat executives are growing fat on people’s appetite for burgers and steaks.
