Much attention recently has focused on far-UVC light, part of the spectrum of germicidal UV (GUV), and its promise for pandemic prevention. In the following medium investigation, we examine different kinds of GUV, their strengths, weaknesses, and crucial considerations in the real-world deployment of these interventions. Throughout the report, we emphasize four points that we believe have been lost in some public discussions of far-UVC: A great deal of uncertainty remains around far-UVC interventions, to the point that we remain uncertain over the relative cost-effectiveness, all things considered, of far-UVC light versus conventional (~254nm) GUV in many settings. Cost-effectiveness depends on deployment context, including the dimensions of rooms, installation type (upper-room, full-room, etc.) assumptions about the mixing of air, etc. Combined with certain physical facts about air and light (e.g. the inverse square law), this complicates strong claims about far-UVC's promise. GUV of any kind will not [...] ---Outline:(02:39) Medium Investigation: Germicidal Ultraviolet Light and Disease Transmission Reduction(10:30) Key Terms and Abbreviations(13:12) Importance: Why Biological Indoor Air Quality Matters(17:23) Current status of indoor air quality in the US(20:22) What is GUV?(22:49) Full-Room Systems(23:45) Far-UVC Light(24:41) Upper-Room GUV(25:27) In-Duct GUV(26:42) Benefits of GUV as a biosecurity intervention(30:24) What do we know about the safety of far-UVC light?(31:14) Primary Concerns: Skin and Eye Damage(36:13) Additional Safety Concerns(36:17) Ozone Production(37:28) Indoor Air Pollution(41:08) Skin Microbiome(42:12) Overall view on safety(44:10) Additional Risks(44:14) Public Reaction Considerations(47:17) Dual-Use Potential and Security Risks(50:18) Resistance risks(52:01) Damage to Plastics and Other Materials(54:47) Comparing Different Types of GUV(56:08) Is far-UVC technology overhyped?(59:42) The Complexity of Comparing Different GUV Systems and Wavelengths(01:04:41) Efficacy(01:07:35) The Challenges of Studying Real-World GUV Effectiveness(01:16:53) Safety(01:17:02) Skin/Eye Effects(01:18:39) Indoor Air Pollution(01:19:06) Cost(01:21:31) Limits to real-world use(01:23:30) Additional benefits(01:24:07) Overall View(01:26:06) Neglectedness(01:32:11) What Could a Philanthropist Do?(01:33:29) Grantmaking under Uncertainty: Impact Multipliers for GUV(01:36:52) Placing Wavelength-Agnostic Bets(01:41:28) Leveraging Societal Resources Via Advocacy(01:42:42) Prioritizing shaping RandD incentives over funding specific RandD(01:44:14) Focusing on high-income countries first(01:45:37) Focusing on good information over rapid deployment(01:50:32) Potential funding pathways(01:55:48) Conclusions and Next Steps(01:57:03) About Founders PledgeThe original text contained 157 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. ---
First published:
January 9th, 2024

Source:
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/EZZveBtxoZJjSighP/are-far-uvc-interventions-overhyped-founders-pledge
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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.