Solar heating to inactivate thermal-sensitive pathogenic microorganisms in vehicles: application to COVID-19.

摘要: Disinfection is a common practice to inhibit pathogens, yet success limited by microbial adaptation and our poor knowledge of viral transmission, notably in the current COVID-19 pandemic. There need for alternative disinfection strategies techniques that are adapted actual behavior humans living densely populated mega-cities. Here, high public circulation shared passenger vehicles such as taxis, buses personal cars represents major risk transmission due confined space commonly touched surfaces. Actual regulatory guidelines not fully successful because they rely both on passengers' willingness wear face masks drivers' disinfect after each shift or ride with symptomatic individuals. Here we propose passive solar heating, sustainable technique has been used agronomy kill weeds soil could inactivate virus during warm-to-hot weather within few minutes half an hour at 50-60 °C. We measured temperatures white compact-size sedan left parking lot under direct sunlight. Air increased from 30 42-49 °C 30 min then reached plateau 52-57 °C 90 min. Temperatures were about 3 °C higher front versus back car 5 °C height compared knee height. Since inactivated 56 °C, findings confirm hot air generated passively heating enclosed spaces promising strategy benefits no added costs, chemicals worktime. Though this appears climate, possible systems work time might be developed vehicle makers extend cold climates.