title: Inactivation of viruses on surfaces by ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.
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.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Environmental Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Chih-Shan
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D017123:Bacteriophage T7 / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017126:Bacteriophage phi 6 / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010584:Bacteriophage phi X 174 / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000528:radiation effects; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000528:radiation effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000821:virology; D006813:Humidity; D017909:Levivirus / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D044224:Pseudomonas syringae / Q000821:virology; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000528:radiation effects; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D038301:Virus Inactivation / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D004279:DNA, Viral; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D012367:RNA, Viral