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In a landmark study, researchers found that ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can quickly and effectively kill human coronavirus. If effective against SARS-CoV-2, this technology could be an inexpensive way to disinfect surfaces, ventilation systems, and water systems.
It is well known that SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19, can spread through respiratory droplets and surfaces contaminated by nasal, mouth and eye secretions.
According to a review article in the magazine Environmental investigation, SARS-CoV-2 was present in air samples from areas such as hospital rooms and elevators. It was also measurable in poorly ventilated or crowded spaces.
SARS-CoV-2 was also viable for several days on common surfaces, such as stainless steel and plastic.
Due to the urgent need to find effective disinfection methods for SARS-CoV-2, researchers from Tel Aviv University in Israel, in collaboration with the University of Haifa, Oranim Academic College, and the Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer , they set out to investigate whether UV LED irradiation would inactivate human coronaviruses or not.
They recently published their results in the Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology.
Using the human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43) as a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2, the research team tested different UV LED bulbs that emit different wavelengths, measured in nanometers (nm), to see which one effectively inactivated the HCoV virus. -OC43. .
After exposing viral suspensions placed in dark tubes to UV LED light, the team found that wavelengths of 285 nm were very effective in inactivating the virus and almost as effective as wavelengths of 265 nm, inactivating 99, 9% of the coronavirus in less than 30 seconds.
Also, other viruses showed similar sensitivity to these wavelengths, indicating that this technology could be useful against many types of human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
The researchers say these findings are significant because the 285nm UV LED light not only disinfects coronaviruses, it is also less expensive and more available than the 265nm variety.
“We found that it is quite easy to kill the coronavirus using LED bulbs that radiate [UV] light.”
– Prof. Hadas Mamane
Because the researchers used HCoV-OC43 instead of SARS-CoV-2, they say their future work will aim to confirm these results by testing the impact of LEDs and their combinations on the virus that causes COVID-19.
As study co-author Dr. Yoram Gerchman said Medical news today, “SARS-CoV-2 requires a biosafety level 3 (BSL3) laboratory to spread (though not for testing) because the disease it causes is much more serious.”
“The [HCoV-OC43 virus] you only need biosafety level 2 [laboratory]. At that time, the BSL3 [laboratory] in [the] The virology center at Sheba hospital was undergoing renovations and we did not want to delay. “
Dr. Gerchman explains that it is common to use bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria but not humans, as surrogates, as researchers can work with them in a biological safety level 1 laboratory.
Furthermore, the surrogate virus the team used in the study belongs to the same genus of betacoronavirus as SARS-CoV-2 and closely resembles it in size and structure.
Despite the success of UV LED irradiation in human coronaviruses, the Tel Aviv University press release warns that this technology is dangerous and does not recommend it for residential use. The authors say that a system needs to be designed to use UV LEDs and prevent its damaging effects.
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of disinfectants in both public settings and homes.
Recent research in the journal Environmental science and technology charts found an increase in the amount of quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) in household dust collected from homes after the pandemic started. QACs are chemicals in cleaning and disinfection products that cause reproductive and respiratory harm.
Additionally, the use of large amounts of disinfectant chemicals can harm wildlife and urban environments, according to a magazine review. Environmental investigation.
Due to the dangers of chemical methods, professionally designed UV LED disinfection systems can be a safer solution, one that can disinfect surfaces, air and water.
According to Professor Mamane, the researchers “eliminated the viruses using cheaper and more readily available LED bulbs, which consume little energy and do not contain mercury like normal bulbs.”
“Our research has commercial and social implications, given the possibility of using such LED bulbs in all areas of our lives, safely and quickly.”
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