Most allergic reactions are triggered by reactions with one or more exogenous protein allergens from these sources, which constitute most allergic reactions. A controlled experimental system was created to produce respirable particles (≤10 μm) that consist of common aeroallergens, including mold, mites, and pollen, both in purified forms and dust. One-third of adults and children were diagnosed with an allergy disorder in the United States (US), and their allergen exposure has significant, detrimental health impacts globally.
Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies produced by the immune system bind specifically to an allergen epitope, which is a specific region of the three-dimensional structure of an allergenic protein. Repeated allergen exposure has been linked to the development and severity of asthma, which affects 262 million people worldwide and is responsible for around 1,000 deaths per day. From 2008 to 2013, the estimated economic burden in the U.S. due to asthma was around $82 billion. This suggests the need for low exposure to asthma triggers and creates more efficient aeroallergen management measures.
The ‘germicidal’ bandwidths centered around 254 nm, which is absorbed by nucleic acids and results in fatal genomic damage, separate UV-based intervention of surface and indoor air. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to identify the secreted A. fumigatus allergen Asp f 1. The culture medium was obtained from the mycelium after one month of growth. As previously used to examine airborne virus durability, aeroallergen tests were conducted in a mixed relative humidity (RH) and temperature-controlled environment.
During the first 9.5 minutes of aerosolization time course, 5 ml of allergen solution was nebulized using compressed air at 20 psi. The total quantity of each allergen gathered by the Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor (MOUDI) was calculated by adding the amounts of each allergen at each stage of the process. The modelling calibrated measurements of the USHIO lamp output using Photopia software were used to report the spherical irradiance distribution in the chamber.
The instructions of the manufacturer were followed for weekly MAGPIX calibration, while quality control (QC) standards used to verify the allergen detection fell within analytical bounds. The large densities of dust-borne conglomerates may have contributed to the minor shift toward smaller mean aerodynamic diameter (MAD) bins in aerosols produced from pure allergens. The % reductions of the UV222-treated samples were subtracted from the control percent reductions to determine UV222-dependent decreases in aeroallergens.
The allergen stability was assessed by collecting allergen-containing respirable aerosols by the condensation process at 10-minute intervals over an hour. The exposure to UV222 doses ≤ 16.8 mJ/cm2 reduced airborne allergen levels during indoor air exchange rates. It was observed that UV222 exposure is below the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold level during a brief treatment period.
Future investigations will evaluate UV222-mediated reductions in aeroallergens in relation to assessing allergy and asthma outcomes, as well as Type I hypersensitivity reactions using both in vitro and in vivo studies. Long-term therapies often require strict environmental control for weeks or months. The results of this study highlight that UV222 treatment can effectively reduce aeroallergens by targeting respirable airborne particles, providing a promising intervention strategy for allergy and asthma management.
Reference: Eidem TM, Rugh KM, Hernandez MT. Far UV exposure UV222 decreases immune-based recognition of common airborne allergens. ACS ES&T Air. 2025;2(9):1892-1903. doi:10.1021/acsestair.5c00080
