1. Safer school with near-UV technology: novel applications for environmental hygiene
- Author
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Messina, G., Bosco, R., Amodeo, D., Nante, N., De Palma, I., Petri, C., and Cevenini, G.
- Subjects
Near-UV ,405 nm ,Environmental hygiene ,Environmental Engineering ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Pollution ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology ,Water Science and Technology - Abstract
Systems capable of disinfecting air and surfaces could reduce the risk of infectious diseases transmission. Aim: to evaluate the effectiveness of near-UV LED ceiling lamps, with a wavelength of 405 nm, in improving environmental hygiene. Between November and December 2020, we conducted an experimental study having a pre-post design in a kindergarten room in Siena where 4 ceiling lamps with 405 nm LED technology were installed. Twice per day, sampling was performed before (T0) and after treatment with near-UV (T1). We used between 8 and 12 pairs of contact plates to sample at various random spots each day. Air samplings were also performed. The plates were incubated at 22 and 36 °C. Significance was set at 95% (p 2 was identified to have an 80% CFU abatement and remains nearly constant. The advantage of being able to use this technology in the presence of people is very important in the context of controlling environmental contamination. Graphical abstract
- Published
- 2023