A review on sterilization methods of environmental decontamination to prevent the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 virus): A new challenge towards eco-friendly solutions

Sci Total Environ. 2023 Dec 15:904:166021. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166021. Epub 2023 Aug 4.

Abstract

In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic is currently wreaking havoc on the planet. SARS-CoV-2, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, is the current term for this outbreak. Reports about this novel coronavirus have been presented since the pandemic's breakout, and they have demonstrated that it transmits rapidly from person to person, primarily by droplets in the air. Findings have illustrated that SARS-CoV-2 can survive on surfaces from hours to days. Therefore, it is essential to find practical solutions to reduce the virus's impact on human health and the environment. This work evaluated common sterilization methods that can decontaminate the environment and items. The goal is that healthcare facilities, disease prevention organizations, and local communities can overcome the new challenge of finding eco-friendly solutions. Further, a foundation of information encompassing various sterilization procedures and highlighting their limits to choose the most appropriate method to stop disease-causing viruses in the new context has been presented. The findings of this crucial investigation contribute to gaining insight into the comprehensive sterilization approaches against the coronavirus for human health protection and sustainable environmental development.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Disease prevention; Eco-friendly solutions; Environment decontamination; SARS-CoV-2; Sterilization.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Decontamination / methods
  • Humans
  • Pandemics / prevention & control
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • Sterilization