Risk vs. Benefit Analysis of Ultraviolet-C Advanced Aircraft Disinfection

This work provides details and references that help to quantify the benefits of using ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light for air disinfection in aircraft vs. the risk of overexposure to UV-C for passengers and crew. The analysis estimates that due to the combined transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and Influenza A aboard commercial aircraft in the United States over the 3 yr through May 2023, there were on the order of 10,000 annual deaths, declining to 3,000/yr going forward, with an estimated annual economic burden of $200 billion. Up to 80% of the deaths and economic burden might be saved by supplementing the typical 30 air changes per hour of the aircraft ventilation system with a presently available 120 air changes per hour, using a UV-C disinfection system. The risks due to accidental overexposure to UV-C are orders of magnitude lower than the benefits. The 0.00003% risk of acute (one-time) overexposure for any given passenger may (or may not) result in a 1-2-day skin or eye irritation, with no long-term effects or risks, compared to the 15,000 times greater risk, at 0.5%, of contracting coronavirus disease 19 or Influenza A that persists for several days to weeks, and carries a risk of hospitalization or death. The estimated risk of non-melanoma skin cancer is virtually nil. Allen GR, Mills WD, Garcia DM. Risk vs. benefit analysis of ultraviolet-C advanced aircraft disinfection. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(3S):A1-A32.