UV inactivation of viruses in water: its potential to mitigate current and future threats of viral infectious diseases

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can damage the genome of microorganisms to hinder replication, thus can serve as a disinfection method. UV disinfection has been in practice for decades in a broad range of applications including water, air and solid surface disinfection. Conventional mercury vapor UV lamps have been used most commonly in such disinfection applications, while new UV radiation sources, such as UV light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs), possess a high potential for the expansion of UV technologies. Pathogenic microorganisms pose a big threat to human health, and viruses have been an important target of UV disinfection. Moreover, at present, the inactivation of viruses is of particular concern due to the worldwide spread of novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, and associated symptoms called COVID-19. This is an intensive review of UV disinfection of water with a particular focus on virus inactivation.