Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) application in building design to terminate pathogens naturally
Department
Construction Management
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-1-2022
Abstract
Advanced building design technology is being proposed to eliminate all pathogens, including COVID-19, inside buildings naturally before they attack the human body. Pathogens comprise viruses, fungi, molds, protozoans, and bacteria that cause deadly diseases in humans. Thus, in this research, the application of solar irradiance through an outer glazing wall of the building forming Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) derived from sunlight has been performed to eliminate all pathogens inside the buildings before the pathogens attack the human body to cause deadly disease. Based on the findings that all pathogens, including COVID-19, can be killed with short-range wavelengths of 254–280 UVGI by disrupting their nucleic acid bonds, the pathogens are forced to malfunction in their biochemical functions and eventually the pathogens are caused to die. Simply, utilization of the outer glazing wall of a building to kill pathogens by controlling the photophysical reaction shall indeed be an interesting field of science to eliminate pathogens inside the building before those pathogens penetrate the human body.
Journal Title
Materials Today Sustainability
Journal ISSN
2589-2347
Volume
19
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/j.mtsust.2022.100161