Reduction of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 infectivity by admissible concentration of ozone gas and water
Takayuki Murata, Satoshi Komoto, Satoko Iwahori, Jun Sasaki, Hironori Nishitsuji, Terumitsu Hasebe, Kiyotaka Hoshinaga, Yukio Yuzawa
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is causing the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Because complete elimination of SARS-CoV-2 appears difficult, decreasing the risk of transmission is important. Treatment with 0.1 and 0.05 ppm ozone gas for 10 and 20 hr, respectively, decreased SARS-CoV-2 infectivity by about 95%. The magnitude of the effect was dependent on humidity. Treatment with 1 and 2 mg/L ozone water for 10 s reduced SARS-CoV-2 infectivity by about 2 and 3 logs, respectively. Our results suggest that low-dose ozone, in the form of gas and water, is effective against SARS-CoV-2.