Should disinfection tunnels be used?
Should disinfection tunnels be used?
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The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international health agencies do not recommend using disinfection tunnels to prevent transmission of COVID-19. This is due to concerns about their safety and effectiveness. Disinfection tunnels are spaces (such as a tunnel, room, cubicle, or cabinet) in which people are sprayed with chemical disinfectants or exposed to other disinfection methods, such as ultraviolet (UV) light. These disinfection methods are often applied to the surfaces of objects. Their use directly on people can be dangerous to human health and may not stop the transmission of COVID-19. If a person is infected with COVID-19 and passes through a disinfection tunnel, any disinfection would only be external and the infected person could still exhale droplets (by breathing, speaking, coughing, sneezing, etc.) that could transmit COVID-19 to others. People passing through disinfection tunnels can experience physical as well as psychological harm. Chemical disinfectants sometimes used in these tunnels can be toxic to the human body, leading to irritation or damage of the eyes, skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal system (for example nausea or vomiting). Some chemical disinfectants are flammable and explosive, generate toxic gases, and are harmful to the environment. UV light exposure, which is also sometimes used in disinfection tunnels, can lead to skin burns, skin cancer, and eye damage. The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) states: "there are no protocols to advise or to permit the safe use of UV light directly on the human body at the wavelengths and exposures proven to efficiently kill viruses such as SARS-CoV-2." Psychologically, the pain and stress of passing through a disinfection tunnel can be traumatic. Preventative measures (such as physical distancing, hand washing, wearing masks, and ensuring good ventilation) are recommended to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19, but disinfection tunnels are not recommended as a COVID-19 preventative measure.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international health agencies do not recommend using disinfection tunnels to prevent transmission of COVID-19. This is due to concerns about their safety and effectiveness. Disinfection tunnels are spaces (such as a tunnel, room, cubicle, or cabinet) in which people are sprayed with chemical disinfectants or exposed to other disinfection methods, such as ultraviolet (UV) light. These disinfection methods are often applied to the surfaces of objects. Their use directly on people can be dangerous to human health and may not stop the transmission of COVID-19. If a person is infected with COVID-19 and passes through a disinfection tunnel, any disinfection would only be external and the infected person could still exhale droplets (by breathing, speaking, coughing, sneezing, etc.) that could transmit COVID-19 to others. People passing through disinfection tunnels can experience physical as well as psychological harm. Chemical disinfectants sometimes used in these tunnels can be toxic to the human body, leading to irritation or damage of the eyes, skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal system (for example nausea or vomiting). Some chemical disinfectants are flammable and explosive, generate toxic gases, and are harmful to the environment. UV light exposure, which is also sometimes used in disinfection tunnels, can lead to skin burns, skin cancer, and eye damage. The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) states: "there are no protocols to advise or to permit the safe use of UV light directly on the human body at the wavelengths and exposures proven to efficiently kill viruses such as SARS-CoV-2." Psychologically, the pain and stress of passing through a disinfection tunnel can be traumatic. Preventative measures (such as physical distancing, hand washing, wearing masks, and ensuring good ventilation) are recommended to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19, but disinfection tunnels are not recommended as a COVID-19 preventative measure.
Publication
What our experts say
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international health agencies do not recommend using disinfection tunnels to prevent transmission of COVID-19. This is due to concerns about their safety and effectiveness.
Disinfection tunnels are spaces (such as a tunnel, room, cubicle, or cabinet) in which people are sprayed with chemical disinfectants or exposed to other disinfection methods, such as ultraviolet (UV) light.
These disinfection methods are often applied to the surfaces of objects. Their use directly on people can be dangerous to human health and may not stop the transmission of COVID-19.
If a person is infected with COVID-19 and passes through a disinfection tunnel, any disinfection would only be external and the infected person could still exhale droplets (by breathing, speaking, coughing, sneezing, etc.) that could transmit COVID-19 to others.
People passing through disinfection tunnels can experience physical as well as psychological harm. Chemical disinfectants sometimes used in these tunnels can be toxic to the human body, leading to irritation or damage of the eyes, skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal system (for example nausea or vomiting). Some chemical disinfectants are flammable and explosive, generate toxic gases, and are harmful to the environment. UV light exposure, which is also sometimes used in disinfection tunnels, can lead to skin burns, skin cancer, and eye damage. The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) states: "there are no protocols to advise or to permit the safe use of UV light directly on the human body at the wavelengths and exposures proven to efficiently kill viruses such as SARS-CoV-2." Psychologically, the pain and stress of passing through a disinfection tunnel can be traumatic.
Preventative measures (such as physical distancing, hand washing, wearing masks, and ensuring good ventilation) are recommended to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19, but disinfection tunnels are not recommended as a COVID-19 preventative measure.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international health agencies do not recommend using disinfection tunnels to prevent transmission of COVID-19. This is due to concerns about their safety and effectiveness.
Disinfection tunnels are spaces (such as a tunnel, room, cubicle, or cabinet) in which people are sprayed with chemical disinfectants or exposed to other disinfection methods, such as ultraviolet (UV) light.
These disinfection methods are often applied to the surfaces of objects. Their use directly on people can be dangerous to human health and may not stop the transmission of COVID-19.
If a person is infected with COVID-19 and passes through a disinfection tunnel, any disinfection would only be external and the infected person could still exhale droplets (by breathing, speaking, coughing, sneezing, etc.) that could transmit COVID-19 to others.
People passing through disinfection tunnels can experience physical as well as psychological harm. Chemical disinfectants sometimes used in these tunnels can be toxic to the human body, leading to irritation or damage of the eyes, skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal system (for example nausea or vomiting). Some chemical disinfectants are flammable and explosive, generate toxic gases, and are harmful to the environment. UV light exposure, which is also sometimes used in disinfection tunnels, can lead to skin burns, skin cancer, and eye damage. The International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) states: "there are no protocols to advise or to permit the safe use of UV light directly on the human body at the wavelengths and exposures proven to efficiently kill viruses such as SARS-CoV-2." Psychologically, the pain and stress of passing through a disinfection tunnel can be traumatic.
Preventative measures (such as physical distancing, hand washing, wearing masks, and ensuring good ventilation) are recommended to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19, but disinfection tunnels are not recommended as a COVID-19 preventative measure.
Context and background
Disinfection tunnels (also known as sanitizing tunnels) are being installed in several locations around the world, with widespread media coverage and claims that they can safely prevent the transmission of COVID-19. However, there is no scientific evidence showing that the use of disinfection tunnels is safe or effective for preventing COVID-19 transmission.
One of the earliest installations of a disinfection tunnel during the COVID-19 pandemic was in an industrial complex in China. There are now installations around the world attempting to disinfect people while crossing borders or entering healthcare facilities, office buildings, sports stadiums, banks, supermarkets, and even schools. There have been public outcries about the dangers of these disinfection tunnels, particularly following their use on migrants and school children.
Additionally, the WHO warns that the use of chemical disinfectants (such as chlorine) in disinfection tunnels can take away from the supply needed for other important interventions, such as treating drinking water and cleaning healthcare facilities. Researchers have also raised concerns about the financial costs of disinfection tunnels, which can channel economic resources away from other pandemic response and recovery initiatives.
Disinfection tunnels (also known as sanitizing tunnels) are being installed in several locations around the world, with widespread media coverage and claims that they can safely prevent the transmission of COVID-19. However, there is no scientific evidence showing that the use of disinfection tunnels is safe or effective for preventing COVID-19 transmission.
One of the earliest installations of a disinfection tunnel during the COVID-19 pandemic was in an industrial complex in China. There are now installations around the world attempting to disinfect people while crossing borders or entering healthcare facilities, office buildings, sports stadiums, banks, supermarkets, and even schools. There have been public outcries about the dangers of these disinfection tunnels, particularly following their use on migrants and school children.
Additionally, the WHO warns that the use of chemical disinfectants (such as chlorine) in disinfection tunnels can take away from the supply needed for other important interventions, such as treating drinking water and cleaning healthcare facilities. Researchers have also raised concerns about the financial costs of disinfection tunnels, which can channel economic resources away from other pandemic response and recovery initiatives.
Resources
- Considerations for the cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19 in non-health care settings (WHO)
- COVID-19: Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility (U.S. CDC)
- Disinfection tunnels: potentially counterproductive in the context of a prolonged pandemic of COVID-19 (Elsevier Public Health)
- UV Industry Associations Discourage the Use of UV Light on the Human Body to Disinfect Against the Coronavirus (PR Newswire)
- “Disinfection Tunnels” Are Popping Up Around the World, Fueled By Misinformation and Fear (Leapsmag)
- Disinfection tunnels: a problematic COVID-19 invention? | Analysis (Africa News)
- Considerations for the cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of COVID-19 in non-health care settings (WHO)
- COVID-19: Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility (U.S. CDC)
- Disinfection tunnels: potentially counterproductive in the context of a prolonged pandemic of COVID-19 (Elsevier Public Health)
- UV Industry Associations Discourage the Use of UV Light on the Human Body to Disinfect Against the Coronavirus (PR Newswire)
- “Disinfection Tunnels” Are Popping Up Around the World, Fueled By Misinformation and Fear (Leapsmag)
- Disinfection tunnels: a problematic COVID-19 invention? | Analysis (Africa News)
