Safer UV light effectively kills virus causing COVID-19

A study conducted by Hiroshima University researchers found that using Ultraviolet C light with a wavelength of 222 nanometers which is safer to use around humans effectively kills SARS-CoV-2 — the first research in the world to prove its efficacy against the virus that causes COVID-19.

Other studies involving 222 nm UVC, also known as Far-UVC, have so far only looked at its potency in eradicating seasonal coronaviruses that are structurally similar to the SARS-CoV-2 but not on the COVID-19-causing virus itself. A nanometer is equivalent to one billionth of a meter.

An in vitro experiment by HU researchers showed that 99.7% of the SARS-CoV-2 viral culture was killed after a 30-second exposure to 222 nm UVC irradiation at 0.1 mW/cm². The study is published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Tests were conducted using Ushio’s Care222^TM krypton-chloride excimer lamp. A 100 microliter solution containing the virus (ca. 5 × 10⁶ TCID₅₀/mL) was spread onto a 9-centimeter sterile polystyrene plate. The researchers allowed it to dry in a biosafety cabinet at room temperature before placing the Far-UVC lamp 24 centimeters above the surface of the plates.

222 nm vs 254 nm UVC

A wavelength of 222 nm UVC cannot penetrate the outer, non-living layer of the human eye and skin so it won’t cause harm to the living cells beneath. This makes it a safer but equally potent alternative to the more damaging 254 nm UVC germicidal lamps increasingly used in disinfecting healthcare facilities.

Since 254 nm UVC harms exposed human tissues, it can only be used to sanitize empty rooms. But 222 nm UVC can be a promising disinfection system for occupied public spaces including hospitals where nosocomial infections are a possibility.

The researchers, however, suggest further evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of 222 nm UVC irradiation in killing SARS-CoV-2 viruses in real-world surfaces as their study only investigated its in vitro efficacy.

The Far-UVC research is one of the four COVID-19 studies conducted by Hiroshima University scientists that received funding from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development.

Drs. Hiroki Kitagawa, Toshihito Nomura, and Hiroki Ohge of Hiroshima University Hospital’s Department of Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Takemasa Sakaguchi of the Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences were behind the study.

Many laboratories in the university are conducting research on the novel coronavirus under the “Hiroshima University CoV-Peace-Project.”

About the study

Journal: American Journal of Infection Control

Title: Effectiveness of 222-nm ultraviolet light on disinfecting SARS-CoV-2 surface contamination

Authors: Hiroki Kitagawa, Toshihito Nomura, Tanuza Nazmul, Omori Keitaro, Norifumi Shigemoto, Takemasa Sakaguchi, Hiroki Ohge

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.08.022

Research support

The research was supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) under grant number JP20he0922003.

https://www.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/en/news/60119