The Potential of Blue Light as a Disinfection Strategy in Indoor Environments

Microbially contaminated objects used in everyday life have been shown to impact human health by harboring infections through direct or indirect contact. For this reason, the development of alternative methods for bacterial elimination that do not lead to resistant microorganisms, large quantities of residues, or human cytotoxicity is warranted. Due to their proven bactericidal power, the use of electromagnetic waves lower than ultraviolet-C radiation would constitute a possible alternative. The main aim of this research was to determine the effect of 462 nm radiation emitted by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the most frequent bacteria contaminating everyday objects and surfaces in residential and hospital environments. The rationale behind the selection of this specific frequency within the blue light spectrum, in contrast to previous research exploring the application of higher frequencies, was its safety for individuals’ eyes and skin. The findings suggest that the use of low-frequency blue light can be effective in destroying environmental microorganisms stemming from the skin microbiome and mucous membranes, and even fecal bacteria, present in the surfaces of everyday objects such as inter alia, mobile phones, remote controls, credit cards, and of which some present high antibiotic resistance.