Japanese researchers on Wednesday said that low-concentration ozone treatment which is not harmful to humans is a good way of disinfecting rooms as it can neutralize coronavirus particles to a large extent.
As per a Reuters report, scientists at Fujita Health University told a news conference they had proven that ozone gas in concentrations of 0.05 to 0.1 parts per million (ppm), levels considered harmless to humans, could kill the virus.
In order to conduct the experiment, the researchers used an ozone generator in a sealed chamber with a sample of coronavirus.
They found that the potency of the virus declined by more than 90 per cent when subjected to low-level ozone for 10 hours.
“Transmission of the novel coronavirus may be reduced by continuous, low-concentration ozone treatment, even in environments where people are present, using this kind of system,” said lead researcher Takayuki Murata.
“We found it to be particularly effective in high-humidity conditions,” he added.
Ozone, a type of oxygen molecule, is known to inactivate many pathogens, and previous experiments have shown that high concentrations, between 1-6 ppm, were effective against the coronavirus but potentially toxic to humans.
Japan has so far recorded 64779 COVID-19 cases, according to John Hopkins University tally.
The death toll due to the virus is 1230 so far, the data of the university showed.