IUVA Submits Comments, Offers Expertise, to Address the Science of the Proposed Legislation

In February of this year, a bill was introduced to the California State Senate, SB 1308: Ozone: indoor air cleaning devices, that would require the California Air Resources Board to adopt regulations for indoor air cleaning devices to limit ozone emission concentrations to 5 ppb, replacing the current limit of 50 ppb; and to ban the sale or the offering for sale in California of devices that exceed the 5 ppb emissions limit, even if previously certified.

That proposed bill has been pulled and will not be moving forward.

In response to the bill, the International Ultraviolet Association collaborated with industry, academia, and others to submit two comment letters opposing, unless amended, the bill; and in addition, the IUVA offered the responsible senate committee the opportunity to engage and discuss the science of UV technology.

In its submissions, the IUVA reviewed the proven ability of UV devices to substantially reduce the risk of disease transmission associated with airborne and surface-associated pathogens, in a manner that presents minimal risk to human health. The IUVA commented that the bill would have likely eliminated the use of Far UVC technology in California, a technology with the potential to become an important, safe, tool for reducing the risk of hospital-acquired infections, surgical site infections in healthcare facilities, and infections in various other public settings. In addition, it was pointed out that the concentration of indoor ozone is largely associated with outdoor air that is brought into an indoor space by the use of conventional heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, therefore warranting further research.

IUVA members interested in developing the group’s regulatory educational outreach are encouraged to email Gary Cohen with IUVA.