The pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 has changed us in many ways and one of the most evident is the new way in which we approach the concept of cleaning and disinfecting offices and our homes. Since we are defending ourselves from a sneaky and highly contagious virus, it is no longer just the obvious and visible dirt that is visible to the naked eye, but above all everything that falls within the field of the invisible. For entrepreneurs and companies this is a concern of no small importance which only in recent times, and as information on the virus and how to fight it has increased, has been answered by identifying some solutions. One of these is undoubtedly the use of chemical disinfectants based on ethyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite and benzalkonium chloride, or health germicides present in different concentrations in detergents commonly used for cleaning. However, there is an alternative to commercially available chemicals (some of which are potentially toxic) and it is a natural and ecological solution. We refer to sanitization with the use of ozone, a gas also present in nature and which is formed in particular in the stratosphere due to the effect of UV rays and electrical discharges from lightning. At present, it should be noted, there is no clear evidence in the literature relating to the effectiveness of ozone sanitization on surfaces contaminated by SARS-CoV-2, since tests are being conducted right now all over the world. However, some air purifiers such as our VARYA MAXI have been tested with excellent results against the Coronavirus H1N1, which is the virus responsible for pandemic influenza in animals and humans (the test is available upon request). In addition, the scientific community is beginning to report the effectiveness of office sanitation with ozone from many quarters and our Ministry of Health recommends it as a “thorough cleaning intervention included in a general context of optimization of hygiene and microclimatic measures”. But why is ozone an ideal candidate for office sanitation?

Sanitization with ozone in the workplaces

Ozone is the most suitable technology for the disinfection of offices or business premises such as laundries, accommodation facilities and homes for the elderly. These are places where a shock treatment can be performed in a few minutes, taking advantage of the temporary absence of staff or guests. Sanitization with ozone must in fact be carried out in the absence of people and animals due to the risk of irritation to the respiratory tract. However, this risk is limited in time and refers exclusively to the dispersion of ozone in the air which, within a few minutes, degrades without leaving residues and transforms into pure oxygen. The technology behind ozone sanitization is therefore based on a completely natural process: ozone is an unstable gas that converts into oxygen in a few minutes. It is sufficient to leave the area treated for half an hour and ventilate the premises briefly to be able to immediately occupy them again in total safety. Furthermore, ozone is neither flammable, nor explosive, nor abrasive. It does not damage the fabrics on which it is deposited but rather sanitizes them and renews them from the inside. According to the Food and Drug Administration (ie the US government body in charge of regulating food and pharmaceutical products) ozone should be counted among the GRAS, or among the “safe agents”. The Italian Ministry of Health has instead recognized it as a “natural aid for the sterilization of environments contaminated by bacteria, viruses, spores, etc.” with prot. n. 24482 of 31 July 1996 and as a “disinfectant and pest control agent in the treatment of air and water” (CNSA of 27 October 2010). The deep disinfection of offices and commercial premises is achieved thanks to its high oxidizing power: the ozone molecule combines with the chemicals and micro organisms present in the air, neutralizing them and clearing away bacteria, viruses, mites, molds, fungi, yeasts, pollen and suspended particles cause bad odors.

The capillarity with which ozone spreads in the air, also penetrating inside curtains, carpets, armchairs, pillows and mattresses also makes more localized treatments superfluous, with other types of equipment. Against mites, for example, ozone is much more recommended than high-temperature steam, which, on the contrary, favors their proliferation due to heat and humidity. Some professional sanitizers also offer the enormous advantage of the absence of maintenance. This is the case with VARYA STERIL PORTABLE OZONE and VARYA STERIL OZONE LARGE SURFACES. Conceived respectively for rooms between 80 and 150 square meters and for rooms over 150 square meters, these two devices for office sanitation do not require refills, lamps, filters or periodic maintenance and, under appropriate conditions of use, they maintain their efficiency for years.