Optimizing Operating Parameters of Electric Ultra-Low Volume Sprayer with Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Solution for Efficient Virucidal Activity on Environmental Surfaces.

Boyeon Park,So-Ra Yoon,Hyeyeon Song,Ji-Hyoung Ha,Hae-Won Lee

doi:10.3390/ijerph181910183

Boyeon Park, So-Ra Yoon + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph181910183

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Abstract

Recently, and considering the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing consensus that the disinfection of surfaces contaminated with pathogenic viral particles is essential. Chemical disinfectant sprays are effective at preventing the spread of infectious human noroviruses (Hu-NoVs) in healthcare and public areas. We assessed the virucidal activity of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) spray on fomite surfaces. A multivariate statistical assessment that combined a response surface methodology (RSM) and a Box–Behnken design (BBD) was performed to define the optimal parameters of, and correlations among, experimental conditions. Spraying SAEW disinfectant (oxidation-reduction potential: 1123 mV, pH range: 5.12, available chlorine concentration: 33.22 ppm) resulted in the successful decontamination of Hu-NoV, with a 4-log reduction in viral particles on polyvinyl chloride, stainless steel, ceramic tile, and glass surfaces. Our experimental data revealed optimized treatment conditions for decontaminating Hu-NoV GI.6 and GII.4, using the numerical multiple optimized method (spraying rate: 218 mL/min, spraying time: 4.9 s, spraying distance: 0.9 m). These findings offer significant insights for designing optimal strategic control practices to prevent infectious disease, particularly Hu-NoV, transmission.

Highlights

The higher the pressure at the electric ultra-low volume (ULV) sprayer inlet, the smaller the size of the spray particles, which has a significant effect on spray dispersion [21]
It is impractical to select the number of particles based on arithmetic calculations as a parameter for the optimum condition of the sprayer
Our findings demonstrated that reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reactions (RT-qPCR), without propidium monoazide (PMA)-SLS, amplified target viruses after slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW)

Summary

Introduction

Human noroviruses (Hu-NoVs), characterized by high infectivity among humans, short-term immunity, tenacious environmental persistence, and high viral load excretion, cause sporadic cases of nonbacterial gastroenteritis and represent the most significant etiologic agent of human epidemics, regardless of age or sex, and likely owing to their hightransmissibility across industrialized nations [1]. Gastrointestinal viral pathogens have been shown to be readily transmitted via waterborne or environmental fomite routes, direct person-to-person transmission, or the fecal–oral route [3]. More recently, airborne viral pathogens, including those in aerosolized droplets (e.g., Hu-NoVs) have been proven to be hazardous. Previous studies have asserted that aerosolized Hu-NoV particles, produced by carrier patients, represent a significant source of transmission [4,5].

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