Disinfection of indoor air for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2: a review of the effectiveness of UV-C technology and gaps in research
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In indoor environments, a structured strategy is needed to reduce the risk of infection. In addition to maintaining proper ventilation and wearing face masks, the development of effective techno...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Built Environment |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2024.1523055/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850031612688859136 |
|---|---|
| author | Elena Cristina Rada Chiara Vignali Stefano Bellazzi Marco Carnevale Miino Alessandro Abbà Márta Szabó Vincenzo Torretta Maria Cristina Collivignarelli Maria Cristina Collivignarelli |
| author_facet | Elena Cristina Rada Chiara Vignali Stefano Bellazzi Marco Carnevale Miino Alessandro Abbà Márta Szabó Vincenzo Torretta Maria Cristina Collivignarelli Maria Cristina Collivignarelli |
| author_sort | Elena Cristina Rada |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In indoor environments, a structured strategy is needed to reduce the risk of infection. In addition to maintaining proper ventilation and wearing face masks, the development of effective technologies for limiting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through infectious respiratory particles (IRPs) has been studied. UV-C devices have already proved effective against other types of microorganisms and have also been investigated for their potential in inactivating SARS-CoV-2. This work aims to review and discuss these findings while also presenting recommendations for future research. Based on the available data, UV-C proved to be effective in the inactivation of airborne SARS-CoV-2 or its surrogates. The main gaps in this research have also been highlighted, and some outlooks for future studies have been suggested. In some studies, the use of surrogates with higher susceptibility to UV-C than airborne SARS-CoV-2 or the consideration of total bacterial counts alone may have led to misleading results. The question “how much variables affect the inactivation rate of airborne SARS-CoV-2 by UV-C in indoor environments?” is still unsolved, considering that the number of studies on the inactivation of this virus in real indoor environments is quite limited. The outcomes of this study can be useful for the scientific community, the technical stakeholders (e.g., managers in the healthcare and transport sectors), and the common people, providing important information about the performance of these technologies to improve the quality of air in indoor environments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-50df3c9b8e7147f0a22f2d5f702f2407 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2297-3362 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Built Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-50df3c9b8e7147f0a22f2d5f702f24072025-08-20T02:58:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Built Environment2297-33622025-01-011010.3389/fbuil.2024.15230551523055Disinfection of indoor air for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2: a review of the effectiveness of UV-C technology and gaps in researchElena Cristina Rada0Chiara Vignali1Stefano Bellazzi2Marco Carnevale Miino3Alessandro Abbà4Márta Szabó5Vincenzo Torretta6Maria Cristina Collivignarelli7Maria Cristina Collivignarelli8Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalyDepartment of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalyDepartment of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Building Engineering and Energetics, Institute of Technology, MATE, Gödöllő, HungaryDepartment of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, ItalyDepartment of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyInterdepartmental Centre for Water Research, University of Pavia, Pavia, ItalyCoronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In indoor environments, a structured strategy is needed to reduce the risk of infection. In addition to maintaining proper ventilation and wearing face masks, the development of effective technologies for limiting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through infectious respiratory particles (IRPs) has been studied. UV-C devices have already proved effective against other types of microorganisms and have also been investigated for their potential in inactivating SARS-CoV-2. This work aims to review and discuss these findings while also presenting recommendations for future research. Based on the available data, UV-C proved to be effective in the inactivation of airborne SARS-CoV-2 or its surrogates. The main gaps in this research have also been highlighted, and some outlooks for future studies have been suggested. In some studies, the use of surrogates with higher susceptibility to UV-C than airborne SARS-CoV-2 or the consideration of total bacterial counts alone may have led to misleading results. The question “how much variables affect the inactivation rate of airborne SARS-CoV-2 by UV-C in indoor environments?” is still unsolved, considering that the number of studies on the inactivation of this virus in real indoor environments is quite limited. The outcomes of this study can be useful for the scientific community, the technical stakeholders (e.g., managers in the healthcare and transport sectors), and the common people, providing important information about the performance of these technologies to improve the quality of air in indoor environments.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2024.1523055/fullCOVID-19pandemicindoor pollutantsairborne viruspathogensUV disinfection |
| spellingShingle | Elena Cristina Rada Chiara Vignali Stefano Bellazzi Marco Carnevale Miino Alessandro Abbà Márta Szabó Vincenzo Torretta Maria Cristina Collivignarelli Maria Cristina Collivignarelli Disinfection of indoor air for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2: a review of the effectiveness of UV-C technology and gaps in research Frontiers in Built Environment COVID-19 pandemic indoor pollutants airborne virus pathogens UV disinfection |
| title | Disinfection of indoor air for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2: a review of the effectiveness of UV-C technology and gaps in research |
| title_full | Disinfection of indoor air for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2: a review of the effectiveness of UV-C technology and gaps in research |
| title_fullStr | Disinfection of indoor air for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2: a review of the effectiveness of UV-C technology and gaps in research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disinfection of indoor air for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2: a review of the effectiveness of UV-C technology and gaps in research |
| title_short | Disinfection of indoor air for the inactivation of SARS-CoV-2: a review of the effectiveness of UV-C technology and gaps in research |
| title_sort | disinfection of indoor air for the inactivation of sars cov 2 a review of the effectiveness of uv c technology and gaps in research |
| topic | COVID-19 pandemic indoor pollutants airborne virus pathogens UV disinfection |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbuil.2024.1523055/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elenacristinarada disinfectionofindoorairfortheinactivationofsarscov2areviewoftheeffectivenessofuvctechnologyandgapsinresearch AT chiaravignali disinfectionofindoorairfortheinactivationofsarscov2areviewoftheeffectivenessofuvctechnologyandgapsinresearch AT stefanobellazzi disinfectionofindoorairfortheinactivationofsarscov2areviewoftheeffectivenessofuvctechnologyandgapsinresearch AT marcocarnevalemiino disinfectionofindoorairfortheinactivationofsarscov2areviewoftheeffectivenessofuvctechnologyandgapsinresearch AT alessandroabba disinfectionofindoorairfortheinactivationofsarscov2areviewoftheeffectivenessofuvctechnologyandgapsinresearch AT martaszabo disinfectionofindoorairfortheinactivationofsarscov2areviewoftheeffectivenessofuvctechnologyandgapsinresearch AT vincenzotorretta disinfectionofindoorairfortheinactivationofsarscov2areviewoftheeffectivenessofuvctechnologyandgapsinresearch AT mariacristinacollivignarelli disinfectionofindoorairfortheinactivationofsarscov2areviewoftheeffectivenessofuvctechnologyandgapsinresearch AT mariacristinacollivignarelli disinfectionofindoorairfortheinactivationofsarscov2areviewoftheeffectivenessofuvctechnologyandgapsinresearch |