A scientific research center supported by the United Nations has partnered with an Italian technology company to explore the possibility of using laser light to kill airborne coronavirus particles, helping to keep indoor spaces safe. The joint efforts began last year between the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Trieste, a city in northern Italy, and the company Eltek K-Laser when COVID-19 was ravaging the country. The center and the technology company developed a device that pushes air through a sterilization chamber containing a laser filter that kills viruses and bacteria. Serena Zacchini, head of the cardiovascular biology group at the center, stated, "The device has proven its ability to kill viruses in less than 50 milliseconds."
Zacchini collaborated with Italian engineer Francesco Zanatta, founder of Eltek K-Laser, which specializes in medical lasers. Sports stars use their products to treat muscle inflammation and fractures. However, some experts have warned of potential risks associated with using light-based technology to attack the virus that causes COVID-19. A study published in the journal Photochemistry and Photobiology in November 2020 highlighted concerns ranging from potential cancer risks to the high cost of light sources. Nonetheless, Zacchini and Zanatta dismissed any health issues, asserting that the laser never touches human skin. Zanatta told Reuters, "Our device uses nature against nature. It is 100% safe for individuals and almost entirely recyclable."
However, this technology does not kill viruses and bacteria when they fall from the air onto surfaces or the ground, nor does it prevent direct infection when an infected person coughs or speaks loudly near another person. The company (Eltek K-Laser) has received a patent from the Italian authorities and is seeking to globalize this technology.
