Decontamination News and Research

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Non-droplet routes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission

In a recent review article published in the Science of The Total Environment journal, a group of Polish researchers discussed the different transmission routes of the severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In their work, the researchers focused on the extent of SARS-CoV-2 survival in the environment, particularly in sewages and contaminated surfaces.

26 May 2021

Could antiviral surface designs help reduce SARS-CoV-2’s spread?

In an effort to improve surface decontamination methods, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, looked at fabricating surfaces with virucidal properties. More specifically, these scientists investigated surface properties that could prevent the survival of viruses on these surfaces, particularly SARS-CoV-2.

7 May 2021

Use of ozone as a decontaminant for SARS-CoV-2

Researchers in Germany have demonstrated how an ozone-based decontamination device significantly reduces the volume of viral residue left on surfaces of two surrogate viruses for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

20 Apr 2021

New copper-based foam filter could be used in facemasks or air filtration systems

During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have grown accustomed to wearing facemasks, but many coverings are fragile and not easily disinfected. Metal foams are durable, and their small pores and large surface areas suggest they could effectively filter out microbes. Now

24 Mar 2021

Texas Biomed receives DoD subcontracts to assess SARS-CoV-2 decontamination technologies

Texas Biomedical Research Institute received two Department of Defense's (DoD) Defense Health Agency subcontracts to assess the efficacy of surface coating and aerosolized decontamination technologies to combat SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens on surfaces and in the air.

11 Mar 2021

Standard decontamination technologies can remove or inactivate all viruses from drinking water

Among the many avenues that viruses can use to infect humans, drinking water may pose only a tiny risk for spreading certain viruses like the novel coronavirus.

3 Feb 2021

Microwaves used to inactivate aerosolized pathogens

As the pandemic has continued to spread globally, studies indicate the COVID-19 virus may be contained in aerosols that can be generated and spread through breathing, coughing, sneezing, or talking by infected individuals.

26 Jan 2021

The Cancer Microbiome Atlas gives clearer picture of microbiota living in organs

Biomedical engineers at Duke University have devised an algorithm to remove contaminated microbial genetic information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

13 Jan 2021

Slower drill rotation during dental procedures can reduce COVID-19 spread

Dental procedures can pose a high risk of viral transmission because the tools that are used often produce aerosols, which can contain high numbers SARS-CoV-2 virions, copies of the virus causing COVID-19.

17 Dec 2020

Methylene blue and light inactivates SARS-CoV-2 on N95 respirators and masks, study finds

Researchers at the University of Washington show that methylene blue (MB) and light can decontaminate masks and respirators by inactivating three tested coronaviruses without compromising integrity. The method is effective, low-cost, and does not require specialized equipment, making it applicable in any setting.

16 Dec 2020

Environmental monitoring shows SARS-CoV-2 contamination of surfaces in food plants

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has presented new challenges to food manufacturers.

15 Dec 2020

Peracetic acid fumigation as powerful and cost-effective disinfectant of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces

In a recent study, researchers at the Public Health Agency of Canada found that dry fog fumigation using peracetic acid (PAA) completely deactivated SARS-CoV-2 on all nine of their test surfaces.

8 Dec 2020

Virusend TX-10 detergent rapidly reduces SARS-CoV-2 infectivity

Researchers at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have conducted a study showing that a novel disinfectant called Virusend TX-10 is highly effective at inactivating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) - the agent responsible for the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

29 Nov 2020

FDA issues guidance on use of dry heat to support reuse of certain respirators

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued guidance on the use of dry heat to help support the single-user reuse of certain particulate filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), such as N95 respirators, by health care personnel when there is a limited supply of respirators during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

25 Nov 2020

Researchers explore new ways to rid the environment of co-occurring toxic chemicals

Across America, hazardous waste sites pose an ongoing threat to human and environmental health. The most severe cases are known as Superfund sites, of which over a thousand currently exist.

18 Nov 2020

Measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission through wastewater in poor regions

A new paper published in the journal Science of the Total Environment on November 10, 2020, discusses the reality of the virus’s wastewater transmission. Overall, the researchers found that wastewater transmission would have a disproportionate impact on countries with low development indices.

15 Nov 2020

New technique uses ultrasound to provide non-invasive assessments of lung health

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina have developed a technique that uses ultrasound to provide non-invasive assessments of pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary edema.

15 Oct 2020

New porous material enables the degradation of compounds analogous to nerve agents

A team from the Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol) of the University of Valencia has succeeded in synthesizing a new porous material that enables and guides the degradation of compounds analogous to nerve agents used in chemical warfare.

30 Sep 2020

Combination of heat and high relative humidity can disinfect N95 mask materials

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept around the world early this year, shortages of protective equipment such as N95 masks left healthcare workers little choice but to reuse the masks they had - increasing the risk of infection for both them and their patients.

26 Sep 2020

Cold plasma inactivates SARS-CoV-2

In one such effort, Zhitong Chen et al., in a recent medRxiv* preprint paper find that by employing an efficient cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) with argon feed gas on different surfaces inactivates the infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus.

24 Sep 2020