At the University of Colorado, researchers developed a safe way to neutralize allergens in the air using ultraviolet lamps with a wavelength of 222 nanometers. Unlike traditional UV, this range does not damage the skin or eyes, but it effectively “disarms” allergen proteins by changing their shape and making them unrecognizable to the immune system.
In a laboratory experiment, allergen concentrations dropped by 20–25% in just half an hour. Such an effect would usually take several months of cleaning. The technology is considered safe, although it does require ventilation to avoid the buildup of byproducts such as ozone.
We hope to see compact portable devices soon that could be taken along, for example, when visiting people with pets. Pet a cat, switch on UV222, air out the room, and everyone is happy: you, and the immune system, and the cat.
