Human corona viruses were first identified in the mid-1960s. There are seven corona viruses that can show potential for infecting humans. One of them is the new SARSCoV- 2 which is presumed to be the cause for COVID-19-disease. It belongs to the group of beta-corona viruses that, among other things, may cause “severe acute respiratory syndrome” (SARS).
The infection usually occurs via droplet infection over short distances and via aerosols also in social human-to-human interaction. Transmission by lubrication infection, after contact with objects and surfaces, cannot be ruled out. The spread takes place by the so-called superspreading.
UV-C radiation basics and interaction: In addition to visible light, the sun also emits UV-C radiation. However, these UV-wavelengths are filtered out by the Earth’s atmosphere (ozone layer). Thus, during evolution, no living being, no microorganism has ever “seen” UV-C light and therefore no protective mechanism against UV-C radiation has been formed. UV-C radiation exerts a killing effect on all microorganisms, regardless of the medium – air, water, organic or inorganic surfaces. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, UV-C radiation destroys the carrier of genetic information of the virus – the so-called RNA (ribonucleic acid). Thereby, further virus reproduction is ruled out, leaving the virus harmless.
The scientific studies in recent years have mainly determined the UV-C dose necessary to inactivate SARS-CoV virus structures. All latest
independent research on the novel SARS-CoV- 2 (University Hospital Frankfurt am Main, University of Miyazaki (Japan), University of
Boston (USA), and others) have confirmed previous studies: a certain UV-C dose leads to the destruction of these viruses.
The scientific team at Boston University applied a dose of 5 mJ/cm², resulting in a 99% (log 2) reduction of infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus (Covid-19), which would correspond to 7,5 mJ/cm2 for a 99,9% (log3) reduction of SARS-CoV-2 virus.[1]
Scientists from Italian Cold Spring Harbour Lab, when evaluating the UV-C dose, required to successfully inactivate the viruses in saliva remaining after an infected person’s coughing, so that no spread could occur, and thereby came to the conclusion that already 3,7 mJ/cm2 provides a 99,9% disinfection rate (log3) of SARS CoV-2 (Covid-19 virus).[2]
The works presented indicates that exposure of 3,7 to 7,5 mJ/cm2 UV-C irradiation will destroy SARS CoV-2 (Covid-19) at 99,9% disinfection rate.
NUVTON® XT series UV-C irradiance at 10 cm distance is measured at 4,8 mW/cm2 to 7,7 mW/cm2, corresponding to generated UV-C dose of 4,8 mJ/cm2 to 7,7 mJ/cm2 within ONE second (irradiance multiplied by the exposure time in seconds, i.e. moving device).
Means: The doses mentioned above, which are required to inactivate virus by 99,9%, are supplied by all NUVTON® XT devices – instantly and immediately.
[1] https://www.signify.com/en-gb/our-company/news/press-releases/2020/20200616-signify-boston-university-validate-effectiveness-signify-uvc-light-sources-on-inactivatingvirus-
that-causes-covid19, cited 2020-06-17.
[2] A. Bianco et al., “UV-C irradiation is highly effective in inactivating and inhibiting SARSCoV-2 replication.” Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 07-Jun-2020 https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.06.05.20123463v2
