Maya Ellison
The COVID-19 virus structure includes a protective coating that makes it difficult to kill. While UV light has been proven to be effective against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the atmosphere blocks 100% of UV-C radiation from the sun, so it will not be effective against the virus in the air, on your skin, or on surfaces. The amount of UV in sunlight also varies depending on the time of day, the weather, the season, and your location in the world. Researchers are currently working on developing plastic packaging that kills the COVID-19 virus by embedding nano-metallic compounds that disrupt the lipid membrane, causing the virus to dehydrate and die.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sunlight kills COVID-19 on plastic | No evidence |
| Sunlight kills COVID-19 | Yes, but the time it takes is unknown |
| Sunlight kills COVID-19 in water | Yes, recommended by WHO |
| UV-C kills COVID-19 | Yes, but it is dangerous to humans |
| UV-A kills COVID-19 | Yes, but it is less effective than UV-C |
| COVID-19 survival on plastic | Longer than on metals, cardboard, or in the air |
| Plastic kills COVID-19 | Researchers are developing plastic with virus-killing compounds |
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What You'll Learn
Sunlight is a popular means of sterilizing water
However, it is important to note that the effectiveness of sunlight in killing viruses and bacteria depends on various factors, including the time of day, weather, season, and location. The UV radiation in sunlight decreases with water depth, and the water's clarity can impact the effectiveness of the treatment. Additionally, the use of plastic bottles for solar water disinfection has raised concerns about the potential release of chemicals or toxic components into the water, especially when heated.
Recently, scientists at Stanford University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory have developed a new technology that uses ordinary sunlight to disinfect drinking water. This technology involves stirring a non-toxic, recyclable powder into contaminated water and exposing it to sunlight. The powder contains a molybdenum sulfide/copper catalyst that absorbs photons from the sun and generates hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals, which are highly effective at killing bacteria. This innovation could be a significant advancement for the approximately 30% of the world's population that lacks access to safe drinking water.
While sunlight can be used to disinfect water, it is important to note that its effectiveness in killing the COVID-19 virus is less clear. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, can be destroyed by ultraviolet light. However, the atmosphere blocks 100% of UV-C radiation from the sun, so natural sunlight cannot directly inactivate the virus in the air or on surfaces. The UV-C range of ultraviolet light has been proven effective against all germs, but it is generated by special lamps and is not present in sunlight. Additionally, the use of UV-C light directly on humans is not recommended as it can cause severe skin burns, skin cancer, and eye damage.
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UV-A in sunlight reacts with oxygen to produce hydrogen peroxide
Sunlight, mostly in the UV-A range, can react with oxygen to produce hydrogen peroxide. This process involves the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. The UV light from the sun catalyses this reaction. The rate of decomposition increases with temperature, and hydrogen peroxide is less stable under alkaline conditions.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a popular method of sterilising water in the developing world that involves leaving water out in the sun for six hours. This technique is thought to work because the UV-A in sunlight reacts with dissolved oxygen to produce unstable molecules such as hydrogen peroxide, which is often used as a disinfectant.
However, the effectiveness of sunlight in killing COVID-19 is uncertain. While SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus causing COVID-19, can be destroyed by ultraviolet light, it is not as simple as exposing potentially contaminated objects to sunlight. The amount of UV in sunlight varies depending on the time of day, weather, season, and location, so this is not a reliable method of disinfection. UV-C light, which has been proven to be successful in killing all germs, is blocked by the atmosphere, so it cannot be used to kill SARS-CoV-2 in the air or on surfaces. Furthermore, the use of UV-C light directly on or in humans can be dangerous and lead to severe skin burns, skin cancer, and eye damage.
Overall, while UV-A in sunlight can react with oxygen to produce hydrogen peroxide, it is not a reliable method for killing COVID-19, and other disinfection methods are recommended.
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UV-C is proven to be germicidal but is blocked by the atmosphere
The sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation is divided into three types of rays based on their wavelength and the harm they cause to humans: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA rays, which account for 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the surface of the Earth, are the least harmful. UVB rays, which make up the remaining 5%, are more harmful and can lead to skin cancer in humans. UVC rays, on the other hand, are the most harmful to humans and can cause severe skin burns, skin cancer, and eye damage.
UVC light is proven to be germicidal, meaning it can kill or inactivate microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and mold. It does so by damaging their genetic material, thereby inhibiting their capacity to carry out vital functions. UVC light has been used for over a century as a germicide and has been adopted to sanitize hospital surfaces and medical instruments. It is also used to disinfect water, with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommending this method of sterilization.
However, UVC light does not reach the surface of the Earth naturally due to the protective properties of the atmosphere, specifically the ozone layer, which absorbs 100% of UVC radiation from the sun. As a result, natural sunlight is mostly in the UV-A range and cannot compare to the germicidal effects of UVC light.
While UVC light is an effective germicide, its use on humans is problematic. Traditional UVC light cannot be used to destroy airborne viruses in occupied indoor spaces as it is hazardous to the skin and eyes. However, a newer type of UVC light, known as far-UVC light, has a shorter wavelength and multiple studies suggest it does not penetrate skin or eye cells, making it safer for humans. Far-UVC light has been shown to rapidly reduce the amount of active microbes in indoor air, making it a potentially useful tool for preventing the spread of airborne-mediated diseases such as COVID-19.
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SARS-CoV-2 cannot tolerate conditions outside of bodies
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, cannot tolerate conditions outside the body and perishes quickly. In a laboratory experiment, it survived for three days on plastic, two days on stainless steel, and only one day on cardboard.
While sunlight is a popular means of sterilizing water, it is not a reliable way to kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The sun's ultraviolet light (UV) varies depending on the time of day, weather, season, and location. Sunlight, mostly in the UV-A range, is less effective against viruses than UV-C, which is referred to as germicidal UV. However, the atmosphere blocks 100% of UV-C radiation from the sun, so it will not affect the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the air, on surfaces, or on the skin.
Direct sunlight may accelerate the destruction of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as its predecessor, SARS-CoV, was susceptible to sunlight. A 2013 study found that it took 1.3 to 2 hours of midday sun in Washington, D.C., or New York City during the summer solstice to incapacitate most of the SARS-CoV virus. However, it is unknown how long it takes to deactivate SARS-CoV-2 with sunlight or what UV intensity is required.
It is worth noting that the COVID-19 virus has a protective coating that makes it challenging to kill. Researchers are exploring ways to develop plastic packaging that can kill the virus by embedding or coating it with virus-killing compounds. These compounds would disrupt the virus's protective coating, causing it to dehydrate and die.
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COVID-19 survives longer on plastics than other materials
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, can be destroyed by ultraviolet light, or UV light. However, the effectiveness of UV light depends on its wavelength, and the shorter the wavelength, the more effective it is against viruses. While UV-C light has been proven successful against all germs, the Earth's atmosphere blocks 100% of UV-C radiation from the sun. Therefore, UV-C light must be generated by special lamps, which can be dangerous to humans.
According to a lab experiment, the SARS-CoV-2 virus lasted three days on plastic, two days on stainless steel, and one day on cardboard. This indicates that COVID-19 survives longer on plastic than on other materials. It is important to note that the virus cannot tolerate conditions outside the body and withers quickly. Direct sunlight may accelerate its destruction, but it is difficult to determine how long this process takes due to varying UV levels depending on the time of day, weather, season, and location.
The plastics industry has been accused of exploiting the pandemic by promoting the use of single-use plastics over reusables, claiming they are safer. However, this is misinformation, as COVID-19 survives much longer on plastics than on other materials. Researchers are currently working on developing plastic packaging that can kill the COVID-19 virus by embedding or coating plastics with virus-killing compounds that disrupt the protective coating of the virus, causing it to dehydrate and die.
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Frequently asked questions
The sun's UV-A rays can kill Covid-19 on plastic, but it may take up to 7 days. This is because UV-A rays are not as effective as UV-C rays, which are blocked by the atmosphere and do not reach us from the sun.
No, UV-C light is dangerous for humans and can cause severe skin burns, skin cancer, and eye damage.
UV-A light reacts with dissolved oxygen in water to produce hydrogen peroxide, which damages pathogens. UV-C light has been proven to be germicidal and works particularly well against coronaviruses.
Yes, researchers are currently working on ways to embed nano-metallic compounds into plastics that would disrupt the lipid membrane of the virus, causing it to dehydrate and die.
Yes, Covid-19 survives much longer on plastic than on other materials like metal, cardboard, or in the air.
