Handrail sterilizer claims to wipe out germs on escalators

Ever feel severe anxiety at the thought of touching grotty escalator handrails? LG Innotek and Clearwin claim that their new sterilizer can wipe out 99.99 percent of germs on handrails through a process known as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI). It’s the world’s first, according to the companies.

“The product blocks any sources of infection from spreading by completely destroying the DNA of germs via UV LED light having a wavelength of 278 nanometers,” LG says, adding that it is harmless to the human body. The lamp continuously disinfects the rails while the escalator is moving.

UVGI disinfects using UV light to kill or destroy microorganisms by targeting their nucleic acids or disrupting their DNA, which leaves them unable to perform their cellular functions. UVGI is used to disinfect air, water, aquariums, and is also used in laboratory hygiene.

LG says its sterilizer can be easily installed on escalators and generates power on its own — converting the movement of the escalator’s handrail into electricity. The sterilization lamp has a life of more than 10,000 hours.

The company says the handrail UV LED sterilizer has already been approved by regulators from the European Union and South Korea. No word yet on how much it costs.