EFFECTIVENESS ASSESSMENT OF UV-C LIGHT IN THE DECONTAMINATION OF REAL BANKNOTES

• Autor(a) principal: Brito, Pedro Caponi Tavares de
• Data de Publicação: 2024
• Outros Autores: Camargo, Monalyza Borges de Oliveira, Cardoso, Alessandra Marques
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Estudos (Goiânia. Online)
• Texto Completo: https://seer.pucgoias.edu.br/index.php/estudos/article/view/13956
• topic: Ultraviolet Rays; Aerobic Bacteria; Decontamination; Raios Ultravioleta; Bactérias Aeróbias; Descontaminação

Hands are pathways for the transmission of microorganisms because they come into contact with different objects in everyday life, including money. As the banknotes wear down, moisture, impurities and bacteria accumulate, which are favored by the oil produced on the pulp of the fingers and deposited among the cracks in the paper money. Although continuous ultraviolet light (UV-C) can be used to decontaminate objects and surfaces, it is necessary to know the ideal exposure time in order to use it efficiently. This study aimed to effectiveness of UV-C exposure in the decontamination of banknotes of real. Four banknotes were analyzed, being three of R$2.00 and one of R$5.00, randomly selected. The experiments were performed in duplicate in the Clinical Laboratory of PUC Goiás, using TSB and PCA culture media. The samples were collected with swabs moistened in sterile TSB broth before and after exposure of the banknotes to UV-C light for 5, 10, and 20 minutes. After collection, the samples were seeded in TSB broth and incubated at 36°C. After 24h of incubation, 100μl of the broth were seeded onto the PCA agar surface, and these were incubated at 36°C for 24h. Afterwards, the experiments were read. The results evidenced the presence of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms (MMAT) in all the evaluated ballots before and after exposure for 5 and 10 minutes to UV-C light. On the other hand, it was observed that after 20 minutes of exposure to UV-C light there was 100% decontamination of real banknotes.