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Comparative Study
. 2007 Jun;4(6):400-5.
doi: 10.1080/15459620701329012.

Inactivation of viruses on surfaces by ultraviolet germicidal irradiation

Chun-Chieh Tseng  1 , Chih-Shan Li
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Inactivation of viruses on surfaces by ultraviolet germicidal irradiation

Chun-Chieh Tseng et al. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2007 Jun.

Abstract

In many outbreaks caused by viruses, the transmission of the agents can occur through contaminated environmental surfaces. Because of the increasing incidence of viral infections, there is a need to evaluate novel engineering control methods for inactivation of viruses on surfaces. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is considered a promising method to inactivate viruses. This study evaluated UVGI effectiveness for viruses on the surface of gelatin-based medium in a UV exposure chamber. The effects of UV dose, viral nucleic acid type (single-stranded RNA, ssRNA; single-stranded DNA, ssDNA; double-stranded RNA, dsRNA; and double-stranded DNA, dsDNA), and relative humidity on the virus survival fraction were investigated. For 90% viral reduction, the UV dose was 1.32 to 3.20 mJ/cm2 for ssRNA, 2.50 to to 4.47 mJ/cm2 for ssDNA, 3.80 to 5.36 mJ/cm2 for dsRNA, and 7.70 to 8.13 mJ/cm2 for dsDNA. For all four tested viruses, the UV dose for 99% viral reduction was 2 times higher than those for 90% viral reduction. Viruses on a surface with single-stranded nucleic acid (ssRNA and ssDNA) were more susceptible to UV inactivation than viruses with double-stranded nucleic acid (dsRNA and dsDNA). For the same viral reduction, the UV dose at 85% relative humidity (RH) was higher than that at 55% RH. In summary, results showed that UVGI was an effective method for inactivation of viruses on surfaces.

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Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.. Schematic of experimental apparatus used for evaluation of UVGI effectiveness for inactivation of viruses on the surface.
FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 2.. Survival fraction of surface viruses (MS2, phi X174, phi 6, and T7) exposed to UVGI at RH 55%. Error bars represent one standard deviation of the mean of at least three trials.
FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 3.. Survival fraction of surface viruses (MS2, phi X174, phi 6, and T7) exposed to UVGI at RH 85%. Error bars represent one standard deviation of the mean of at least three trials.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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