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.
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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.
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“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.