Ozone Eliminates SARS-CoV-2 from Difficult-to-Clean Office Supplies and Clinical Equipment

Laura B. Torres-Mata, Omar García-Pérez, Francisco Rodríguez-Esparragón, Angeles Blanco, Jesús Villar, Fernando Ruiz-Apodaca, José L. Martín-Barrasa, Jesús M. González-Martín, Pedro Serrano-Aguilar, José E. Piñero, Elizabeth Córdoba-Lanús, Jacob Lorenzo-Morales and Bernardino Clavo
Additional contact information
Laura B. Torres-Mata: Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín, 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Omar García-Pérez: Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
Francisco Rodríguez-Esparragón: Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín, 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Angeles Blanco: Chemical Engineering & Materials Department, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Jesús Villar: Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín, 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Fernando Ruiz-Apodaca: Lighting Dynamic Technology, SL, 35001 Las Palmas, Spain
José L. Martín-Barrasa: Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín, 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Jesús M. González-Martín: Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín, 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Pedro Serrano-Aguilar: Red de Investigación en Cronicidad, Atención Primaria y Promoción de la Salud (RICAPPS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
José E. Piñero: Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
Elizabeth Córdoba-Lanús: Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
Jacob Lorenzo-Morales: Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
Bernardino Clavo: Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín, 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-13

Abstract: (1) Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to cause profound health, economic, and social problems worldwide. The management and disinfection of materials used daily in health centers and common working environments have prompted concerns about the control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection risk. Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent that has been widely used in disinfection processes for decades. The aim of this study was to assess the optimal conditions of ozone treatment for the elimination of heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 from office supplies (personal computer monitors, keyboards, and computer mice) and clinical equipment (continuous positive airway pressure tubes and personal protective equipment) that are difficult to clean. (2) Methods: The office supplies and clinical equipment were contaminated in an area of 1 cm 2 with 1 × 10 4 viral units of a heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 strain, then treated with ozone using two different ozone devices: a specifically designed ozonation chamber (for low–medium ozone concentrations over large volumes) and a clinical ozone generator (for high ozone concentrations over small volumes). SARS-CoV-2 gene detection was carried out using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). (3) Results: At high ozone concentrations over small surfaces, the ozone eliminated SARS-CoV-2 RNA in short time periods—i.e., 10 min (at 4000 ppm) or less. The optimum ozone concentration over large volumes was 90 ppm for 120 min in ambient conditions (24 °C and 60–75% relative humidity). (4) Conclusions: This study showed that the appropriate ozone concentration and exposure time eliminated heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the surfaces of different widely used clinical and office supplies, decreasing their risk of transmission, and improving their reutilization. Ozone may provide an additional tool to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; surface disinfection; clinical equipment; office supplies; ozone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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