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Photochemical inactivation mechanism of viruses in tropical freshwater

In developing regions, lake water is frequently used for domestic purposes. When untreated wastewater enters these sources, it poses exposure risks to pathogens like norovirus, a leading cause of infectious gastroenteritis. However, lakes possess natural self-purification capabilities. Accurately evaluating this potential enables effective risk management. Our previous undergraduate research quantified norovirus inactivation driven by photochemical reactions—a primary self-purification mechanism in lake surface layers—alongside associated water quality parameters. The findings suggested that singlet oxygen, a reactive oxygen species (ROS), contributes to this inactivation. Consequently, identifying the photosensitizers generating singlet oxygen and evaluating singlet oxygen-virus reactivity will clarify these photochemical mechanisms, ultimately enhancing risk management. The present study aims to comprehensively elucidate the photochemical mechanisms of virus inactivation in lake water by comparing empirical light irradiation data from tropical freshwater samples with theoretical ab initio calculations.