The agency in charge of public transit in New York City announced a pilot program using ultraviolet light lamps to kill COVID-19 on buses and trains and at stations.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said Tuesday night that it will use “150 dual-headed mobile devices” from Denver-based start-up PURO Lighting to determine the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the UVC light technology, the agency said in a press release.

UVC, which is one of three types of light on the UV spectrum, is proven to eliminate COVID-19 and is most potent against viruses and bacteria, PURO Lighting said. PURO noted that their lamps also have UVA and UVB as well for full spectrum disinfection.

The first phase is set to launch on subways and buses and at transit facilities this week, the MTA said, and if successful will expand to Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad trains in a second phase. The two railroads serve New York City’s suburbs.

The lamps will be used during the overnight shut down on subway trains and periods where transit is out of service. For the first time in its 115-year history, New York City deliberately shut down its entire subway system overnight starting May 6 to clean all its cars.

The MTA touts that UVC light is “an efficient, proven, and effective technology for eliminating viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19” and has been demonstrated to kill viruses in hospital operating rooms, urgent care clinics, universities and fire stations. The first phase will focus on the rolling stock of cars, stations and yard areas, the MTA said, as well as occupational facilities, crew rooms and other shared areas.

The disinfecting lighting lamps use high-intensity, full-spectrum UV lights that can be installed on a ceiling or wall, according to a press release from PURO Lighting. Photos from the MTA show the units mounted on poles in the middle of the car. The unit disinfects both surface and airborne pathogens and eliminates up to 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria, according to PURO Lighting.

David Brenner, the director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University, said his test showed UVC light eliminated COVID-19, and is working to conduct additional testing for peer-review publication, the MTA said.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【消灭】 xiāomiè eliminate get rid of, remove

【吹嘘】chuīxū tout promote or praise energetically, publicize

纽约市公共交通管理部门宣布将在一个试点项目中采用紫外线灯来杀死公交车、地铁和车站的新冠病毒。

纽约大都会运输署5月19日晚在一份新闻稿中称，将使用丹佛初创企业PURO照明公司生产的“150双头移动设备”来确定紫外线灯技术的有效性和成本效益比。

PURO照明公司称，短波紫外线是紫外光谱中的三种光线之一，被证实能消灭新冠病毒并能有效抗击病毒和细菌。PURO公司指出，他们的紫外线灯还能放射长波和中波紫外线，可以进行全光谱消毒。

纽约大都会运输署称，下周早些时候开始的第一阶段将会在地铁、公交车和中转站中使用紫外线灯，如果试点成功，就会在第二阶段扩大到长岛铁路和大都会北方铁路的火车上使用。这两条铁路为纽约市的郊区服务。

紫外线灯将在地铁夜间关闭时和中转站停止服务的时段使用。

从5月6日开始，纽约市115年来首次特意在夜间关闭整个地铁系统来清洁车厢。

纽约大都会运输署声称这种紫外线灯 “被证实是能杀灭病毒的高效技术，包括新冠病毒在内”，实践表明它能杀死医院手术室、急救诊所、大学和消防站的病毒。纽约大都会运输署称，第一阶段将主要对机动车辆、车站、车场以及专业设施、乘务员室和其他共享区域进行消毒。

根据PURO照明公司的一份新闻稿，发射高强度、全光谱紫外线的消毒灯将安装在天花板或墙壁上。来自纽约大都会运输署的照片显示，紫外线灯被放置在车厢中间的竖杆顶部。PURO照明公司称，紫外线灯可以对表面和空气中的病原体进行消毒，能杀死99.9%的病毒和细菌。

纽约大都会运输署还指出，哥伦比亚大学放射学研究中心主任戴维▪布伦纳的测试显示紫外线灯可以杀灭新冠病毒。布伦纳正在进行更多测试以将研究结果发表在同行评审出版物上。

(chinadaily.com.cn)