The Effect of Ultraviolet Radiation on Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2): A Review Study

Aim: The global outbreak of the new coronavirus (SARS-COV2) threatens human health around the world. The presence of the SARSCOV2 virus on surrounding surfaces and protective equipment such as respirators increases the transmission of the virus. One way to reduce the spread of the virus is through disinfection techniques. The aim of this study is to review the investigations carried out in the area of the ultraviolet (UV) effect on the SARS-CoV2 virus, the UV disinfection spectra, the effect of this radiation on surface disinfection and the N95 respirator. Method and Materials: The search was carried out from December 2019 to August 2020 in the databases including Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and Pubmed with the keywords UV and Covid19, UV and Sars-Cov2, UV and Covid19 as well as UV and sars-Cov2. By checking the titles and abstracts of the articles, based on the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, related articles were separated from the irrelevant ones and also duplicate articles were eliminated. Findings: This study showed that UV light generally has antiseptic properties and were effective against SARS-Cov2 virus, so it could eliminate Covid-19 virus and similar types of viruses on the surfaces and respiratory masks. The typical wavelength used in the studies was 254 nm. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that UV can be used to disinfect surfaces, respiratory masks and it helps us choose appropriate spectra of this radiation, especially during Covid-19 pandemic, however, the current studies in this field are insufficient and further studies are needed.