Potential of Solar UV Radiation for Inactivation of Coronaviridae Family Estimated from Satellite Data

The pandemic COVID‐19 disease affects people dramatically overall the globe by illness and death. Several strategies are applied to restrict the spread of this disease such as lockdown, adequate social distance in different activities, hand disinfection and the use of masks. Potential hazard outdoors comes from released viruses, which may remain in the air for a while and settle down afterward and contaminating surfaces. Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is known to act as a natural environmental virucide. The virucidal effectivity of UVR depends on a first order on the sensitivity of the virus against UVR as well as on the amount of incoming UVR. Here, we present estimates of the potential of solar UVR in inactivating SARS‐CoV‐2 in the environment. This is done by combining DNA‐damaging surface solar UVR retrieved by satellites and the available information on fluence for inactivation of Coronaviridae. Our results show that solar UVR has a high potential to inactivate these viruses, but the degree depends strongly on location and season. In the subtropics (Sao Paulo, 23.5°S), the daily survival fraction is lower than 10−4 during the whole year, while close at norther latitudes (Reykjavik, 64°N), such a reduction can be found in June and July only. Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) acts as a natural environmental virucide by damaging nucleic acids and with that inactivating a virus. Its virucidal effectivity depends on the sensitivity of the virus against UVR as well as on the amount of incoming UVR. Here, we present estimates for in inactivating SARS‐CoV‐2 in the environment. This is done by combining DNA‐damaging solar UVR retrieved by satellites and the available information on fluence for inactivation of Coronaviridae. Our results show that solar UVR has a high potential to inactivate these viruses, but the degree depends strongly on location and season.