Influencing factors for the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) exposed in environmental matrices and disinfection methods: systematic review

Abstract

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has been pestilential over a considerable duration, global deployment and financial crisis could not be reversed as before. It brought up essentials to allow the nations back to work with effective preventive measures. This review intended to evaluate the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) exposed in the environmental matrices, influencing factors on the virus persistence and disinfection methods. Applying the PRISMA 2009 tool, MEDLINE/PubMed, HINARI, and Google Scholar were primarily explored. Data were extracted, entered into the modified data extraction forms and analysed narratively. Quality appraisal was done by the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool. The findings were presented descriptively. Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 was revealed <4 hours on aluminium, 4 hours on copper, 24 hours on cardboard, 44 hours on glass, 48 hours on stainless steel, 72 hours on plastic, 92 hours on polystyrene plastic, 1.1-1.2 hours in the air, 7 days (higher titer) to 3 days (lower titer) in wastewater. Virus decaying was noted 5-10 times faster at 27°C than at 10°C and 2-5 times faster with 65% relative humidity (RH) than with 40% and 100% RH. Virus infectivity was reduced by far-UVC (222 nm) light for 90% (8 minutes), 95% (11 minutes), 99% (16 minutes) and 99.99% (25 minutes). Sodium hypochlorite (800 g/m3) and ammonium-based detergents were remarkably effective for preliminary disinfection. This review identified the duration of SARS-CoV-2 survival in environmental matrices for both healthcare and non-healthcare settings. The study explored the impacts of environmental factors on the virus and effective disinfection methods to be considered accordingly to the findings.

Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Predicting UV Inactivation of Coronaviruses with Machine Learning

“…First, the environment where coronaviruses exist is predominant, as viruses are typically present in liquid, air, or on surfaces. 10 For viruses suspended in liquid or wet droplets on surfaces, aqueous conditions like watercolor, suspended solids, and organics that affect the UV absorbance of the solution can adversely affect the UV inactivation of viruses. 11 Therefore, inactivation data from different experiments vary due to the discrepancy in the liquid compositions.…”

“…The complexity of actual scenarios adds to the difficulty of establishing an accurate and generalized model for the UV inactivation of coronaviruses, because various factors control inactivation processes in multiple ways. First, the environment where coronaviruses exist is predominant, as viruses are typically present in liquid, air, or on surfaces . For viruses suspended in liquid or wet droplets on surfaces, aqueous conditions like watercolor, suspended solids, and organics that affect the UV absorbance of the solution can adversely affect the UV inactivation of viruses .…”

“…10.1021/acs.est.3c03707. More detailed explanations of the collection and treatment of data set, information and training process of models, and additional tables and figures to support our view (PDF)…”