Japan Uses ‘Deep UV Light’ To Reduce Coronavirus Potency By 99.9%

Joint research carried out by researchers at the University of Miyazaki and a Japanese firm has shown that the potency of the coronavirus can be reduced by 99.9 percent by using “ deep ultraviolet light.”

Potency refers to the ability of the coronavirus to cause COVID-19 or coronavirus disease. The experiment shows that a deep ultraviolet LED developed by the Japanese firm can weaken the virus, thus reducing its ability to cause an infection.

The Tokyo-based firm, Nikkiso Co., says that deep UV LED developed by the team is less harmful to humans and the environment as compared to the ordinary UV light. It further says that deep ultraviolet is also extremely useful against allergens and the company is already using it in its Aeropure air purifier.

During the joint experiment, the researchers used light-emitting diodes and shone them for 30 seconds on a liquid culture of the novel coronavirus.

After three days, the researchers found that the infection-causing ability of the virus had reduced by almost 99.9 percent, indicating that deep UV light could help reduce the severity of COVID-19 and also prevent mass infections in a hospital setting.

"Along with washing hands and wearing protective clothing, we must combine various items to restore normal life. I hope this helps it," Hiroko Inagaki, Assistant Professor at the university's Faculty of Medicine, said in a statement.

Because of the unavailability of any treatment so far and the damage that coronavirus pandemic has caused so far, scientists around the world are working hard to find a solution against the novel virus. Ultraviolet light is being studied as a potential treatment as well and it came to light only after the U.S. President Donald Trump questioned in late April during a White House Press Conference if UV light can be used to treat coronavirus.

Trump had asked the Department of Homeland Security biologist if UV light or disinfectants can be used to kill coronavirus inside the human body, just like they do outside the body.

“ So supposing we hit the body with a tremendous, whether it’s ultraviolet or just very powerful light. Supposing you brought the light inside the body, which you can do either through the skin or in some other way,” he had said.

The press briefing took place four days after a company by the name Aytu BioScience announced “Healight,” which involves a dministering a specific spectrum of UV-A light to eradicate viruses, including coronaviruses, from the infected human cells.

The company has partnered with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles to develop the technology.