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COVID-19 Emergency - Using UV Lamps to sanitize Face Masks overnight

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Gyro:

--- Quote from: Bud on March 18, 2020, 04:15:34 pm ---Interesting study on survival of the virus on different type of surface materials

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2004973

Copper 4 hrs
Cardboard 24 hrs
Stainless steel 48 hrs
Plastic 72 hrs

I wonder what is the magic with copper....

--- End quote ---


--- Quote from: SiliconWizard on March 18, 2020, 04:29:54 pm ---https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_copper


--- End quote ---

Yes, the antimicrobial properties of copper, and other metals like Silver have long been known. Brass door handles and door plates were very effective in public buildings and hospitals. Unfortunately these days, everything has gone over to anodized Aluminium which, I think, is pretty much inert.

The same with the traditional use of Linoleum flooring, which has natural and lasting antimicrobial properties.

james_s:

--- Quote from: Mechatrommer on March 17, 2020, 10:31:11 pm ---i find its funny when somebody or WHO? suggested that UV lamp should not be around bare skin. people go to beach to get sun tan. baby will get uv lamp treatment if found jaundice (or what?) darker people (which indicates more exposure to UV) are usually much resilient and stronger. and just yesterday, i fixed our front gate due to broken retainer by welding it again and now i have skin rash, tomorrow i expect some dead skin peeling off.. for countless number of time already... free sterilization in the process i guess, and new skin too.. my uv lamp (nail polish curer) that i used to cure solder mask or the uv lamp used in hospitals are nothing compared to that weld arc...

--- End quote ---

"UV" covers a broad range of wavelengths from just below the human visual threshold down into deep UV which are high energy photons, genuine ionizing radiation. Xrays/gamma rays are just photons, even higher energy than what is typically considered light. I do think it's a bit silly the amount of fear that the word "radiation" stirs and yet people deliberately go sit out in the tropical sun to irradiate their skin. Some is tolerable of course but UV exposure absolutely causes skin cancer at some levels and like any type of ionizing radiation there is no threshold known to be absolutely safe. Just look at what it does to many plastics and other materials. Leave them out in the sun for a while and they crumble to dust, pigments fade rapidly, the high energy photons blast apart molecular bonds.

james_s:

--- Quote from: Mechatrommer on March 18, 2020, 09:38:11 am ---knives and bottle gas can be controlled and contained, hazardous lamp cant, much like nuclear radiation. and its not like we are going to put our skin 1cm from radiation at any moment. the fact that it is sold means its not as hazardous as its said in the warning. its similar to when authority gives warning "dont go outside you'll get caught by covid" so what do we do? ask our nurse/doctor wife to go home? some people will take this literally.

--- End quote ---

Maybe things are done differently where you are but I would never expect something to be safe just because it is sold to the general public. Here I can walk into Walmart and buy a jug of hydrochloric acid, a bottle of MEK, a propane soldering torch and fuel, a hunting knife, a crossbow and bolts, insect poison, a box of shotgun shells and any number of other things including a germicidal UV lamp, no restrictions at all aside from showing ID to prove that I'm at least 18 years old to buy the weapons.

The UV lamps have a warning on the box to avoid exposure to eyes and skin. Sure it won't hurt you to look at one for a few seconds but I wouldn't recommend making a habit of it, expose your skin to one for a half hour and you'll get a UV burn for sure. I've had the same thing happen arc welding where I had a patch of exposed skin somewhere and got a sunburn from the arc. The world is full of dangerous things, don't expect someone else to protect you from everything, that attitude is a cancer on society which has led to ridiculous warning labels plastered all over everything and far too many things people are not even allowed to do because someone is afraid of being sued.

not1xor1:

--- Quote from: LaserSteve on March 18, 2020, 01:03:42 am ---Remember, the surgical mask is designed to stop big droplets. Usually it is to prevent the wearer from infecting  others, not to protect the wearer from airborne materials.

--- End quote ---

I'm Italian like the original poster, it is just a matter of misunderstanding or if you prefer a translation error. Here we usually call mask a different kind of device made with thick fabric. It completely covers mouth and nose leaving no gap and is so thick the virus can't get through... here are some pictures (sorry it is in Italian)

BTW I apologize to everybody for my rude comment of yesterday

LaserSteve:
Don't Laugh,  My supervisor just sent a partial box and our last unopen box of N95 to the local hospital.  At the emergent  request of a  surgeon alumni.  I'm in the Midwest USA.
That was our "Stash" for our critical personnel.

Steve

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