Decontamination Methods of N95 Respirators Contaminated with SARS-CoV-2

Gopalan, Thirumaaran; Yatim, Rabi’atul ‘Adawiyah Mohd; Muhamad, Mohd Ridha; Nazari, Nor Shafina Mohamed; Hashim, N. Awanis; John, Joby; Hoe, Victor Chee Wai

doi:10.3390/su132212474

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Secondly, a basic level of expertise is required in handling the UVGI device. In addition, the limited space of the microwave oven constricts the number of respirators that can be decontaminated in one cycle [ 1 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This specific study is an experimental research. An extensive literature review was conducted on various respirator decontamination techniques which include UVGI, MGS, HPV, dry heat, moist heat, and ethanol [ 1 ]. The selection of UVGI and MGS was based on the ease of incorporating both treatments in one cycle and excellent decontamination efficiency against pathogens.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This urgent necessity for respiratory protection resulted in a rapid increase in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly face masks. Healthcare professionals who often handle COVID-related illnesses rely solely on PPE, particularly N95 respirators, to safeguard against this virus [ 1 ]. The N95-type respirator is applicable and widely used in healthcare applications [ 2 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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N95 respirator hybrid decontamination method using Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) coupled with Microwave-Generated Steam (MGS)

Gopalan,

Muhamad,

Wai Hoe

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has induced a critical supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) especially N95 respirators. Utilizing respirator decontamination procedures to reduce the pathogen load of a contaminated N95 respirator can be a viable solution for reuse purposes. In this study, the efficiency of a novel hybrid respirator decontamination method of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) which utilizes ultraviolet-C (UV-C) rays coupled with microwave-generated steam (MGS) against feline coronavirus (FCoV) was evaluated. The contaminated 3M 1860 respirator pieces were treated with three treatments (UVGI-only, MGS-only, and Hybrid—UVGI + MGS) with variable time. The virucidal activity was evaluated using the TCID50 method. The comparison of decontamination efficiency of the treatments indicated that the hybrid method achieved at least a pathogen log reduction of 4 logs, faster than MGS and UVGI. These data recommend that the proposed hybrid decontamination system is more effective comparatively in achieving pathogen log reduction of 4 logs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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N95 respirator hybrid decontamination method using Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) coupled with Microwave-Generated Steam (MGS)

Gopalan,

Muhamad,

Wai Hoe

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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“…Masks' filtering efficiency is reduced by soap by 54% and water or medical-grade alcohol by 67% due to the CF of FFP2 protective facial masks neutralisation phenomena of electrets on the melt-blown layer (Juang and Tsai, 2020), suggesting dry sanitisation is the best option. UV has proven effective against SARS-CoV-2 in the literature (Gopalan et al, 2021) as an effective decontamination system on the N95 respirator surfaces. For this reason, it has been chosen as a valid reuse strategy to model in this paper.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon footprint of FFP2 protective facial masks against SARS-CoV-2 used in the food sector: effect of materials and dry sanitisation

Giungato

Moramarco

Rana

et al. 2023

BFJ

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PurposeInternational outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 infection has fostered the Italian government to impose the FFP2 protective facial masks in closed environments, including bar, restaurants and, more in general, in the food sector. Protective facial masks are rocketing, both in mass and in costs, in the food sector imposing efforts in fostering reuse strategies and in the achievement of sustainable development goals. The scope of the present paper is to depict possible strategies in manufacturing and reuse strategies that can reduce the carbon footprint (CF) of such devices.Design/methodology/approachTo implement circular economy strategies in the protective facial masks supply chain, it was considered significant to move towards a study of the environmental impact of such devices, and therefore a CF study has been performed on an FFP2 facial mask used in the food sector. Different materials besides the mostly used polypropylene (PP) (polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), poly (lactic acid) (PLA), cotton, polyurethane (PUR), polystyrene (PS) and nylon 6,6) and different sanitisation alternatives as reuse strategies (both laboratory and homemade static oven, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) readily implemented have been modelled to calculate the CF of a single use of an FFP2 mask.FindingsThe production of textiles in PP, followed by disposal was the main contributor to CF of the single-use FFP2 mask, followed by packaging and transportations. PP and PE were the least impacting, PC, cotton and Nylon 6-6 of the same weight results the worst. PLA has an impact greater than PP and PE obtained from crude oil, followed by PUR and PS. Static laboratory oven obtained an 80.4% reduction of CF with respect to single use PP-made FFP2 mask, whereas homemade oven obtained a similar 82.2% reduction; UV cabinet is the best option, showing an 89.9% reduction.Research limitations/implicationsThe key strategies to reduce the environmental impacts of the masks (research for new materials and reuse with sanitisation) should ensure both the retention of filtering capacities and the sanitary sterility of the reused ones. Future developments should include evaluations of textile recycling impacts, using new materials and the evaluation of the life cycle costs of the reused masks.Practical implicationsThis paper intends to provide to stakeholders (producers, consumers and policy makers) the tools to choose the best option for producing and reuse environmentally friendly protective facial masks to be used in the food sector, by using both different materials and easily implemented reuse strategies.Social implicationsThe reduction of the CF of protective facial masks in the food sector surely will have relevant positive effects on climate change contributing to reach the goals of reducing CO2 emissions. The food sector may promote sustainable practices and attract a niche piece of clients particularly sensible to such themes.Originality/valueThe paper has two major novelties. The first one is the assessment of the CF of a single use of an FFP2 mask made with different materials of the non-woven filtering layers; as the major contribution to the CF of FFP2 masks is related to the non-woven textiles manufacturing, the authors test some other different materials, including PLA. The second is the assessment of the CF of one single use of a sanitised FFP2 mask, using different sanitation technologies as those allowed in bars or restaurants.

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“…Although surgical masks have been designed to be single-use equipment, their safe reuse for a limited time could provide a reliable disposal alternative, thereby reducing the issues connected to waste production. For this reason, safe decontamination methods for on-site disinfection can be proposed with the aim of reducing the severe shortage of masks and their environmental and economic burdens [ 15 , 16 ]. During the first period of the pandemic emergency in April 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided guidelines describing three processes for the de-contamination and reuse of filtering facepiece respirators based on ultraviolet (UV) germicidal irradiation, vaporous hydrogen peroxide, and moist heat, respectively [ 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Experimental Analysis of Five Household Equipment-Based Methods for Decontamination and Reuse of Surgical Masks

Scaglione

Falco

Mantova

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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The current coronavirus pandemic has increased worldwide consumption of individual protective devices. Single-use surgical masks are one of the most used devices to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. Nevertheless, the improper management of such protective equipment threatens our environment with a new form of plastic pollution. With the intention of contributing to a responsible policy of recycling, in the present work, five decontamination methods for used surgical masks that can be easily replicated with common household equipment are described. The decontamination procedures were hot water at 40 °C and 80 °C; autoclave; microwave at 750 W; and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation. After each decontamination procedure, the bacterial load reduction of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 was recorded to verify the effectiveness of these methods and, moreover, bacterial filtration efficiency and breathability tests were performed to evaluate mask performances. The best results were obtained with the immersion in 80 °C water and the microwave-assisted sterilization. Both methods achieved a high degree of mask decontamination without altering the filtration efficiency and breathability, in accordance with the quality standard. The proposed decontamination methods represent a useful approach to reduce the environmental impact of this new waste material. Moreover, these procedures can be easily reproduced with common household equipment to increase the recycling efforts.

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Decontamination Methods of N95 Respirators Contaminated with SARS-CoV-2

Cited by 4 publications

References 70 publications

N95 respirator hybrid decontamination method using Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) coupled with Microwave-Generated Steam (MGS)

N95 respirator hybrid decontamination method using Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) coupled with Microwave-Generated Steam (MGS)

Carbon footprint of FFP2 protective facial masks against SARS-CoV-2 used in the food sector: effect of materials and dry sanitisation

An Experimental Analysis of Five Household Equipment-Based Methods for Decontamination and Reuse of Surgical Masks

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