The Impact of UVC Light on Indoor Air Chemistry: A Modeling Study.

ABSTRACT: Germicidal ultraviolet light (GUV) is gaining attention for air disinfection, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. GUV air cleaning devices use 222 or 254 nm light to remove airborne and surface pathogens from indoor environments, although their impact on indoor chemistry has received limited attention. This modeling study investigates the impact of GUV light on indoor air pollutant concentrations. In a simulated, occupied classroom using a 222 nm lamp with an average room irradiance of 1 μW cm^-2, the predicted ozone production rate was 0.33 mg h^-1 for an air change rate of 0.5 h^-1, leading to surface interactions with occupants and inanimate surfaces that formed secondary products including nonanal, decanal, and 4-oxopentanal. By contrast, ozone c

SUBMITTER: Carter TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12355949 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature