2021
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248859
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Gamma radiation sterilization of N95 respirators leads to decreased respirator performance

Abstract: In response to personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages in the United States due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019, two models of N95 respirators were evaluated for reuse after gamma radiation sterilization. Gamma sterilization is attractive for PPE reuse because it can sterilize large quantities of material through hermetically sealed packaging, providing safety and logistic benefits. The Gamma Irradiation Facility at Sandia National Laboratories was used to irradiate N95 filtering facepiece respirators to… Show more

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Cited by 12 publications
(15 citation statements)
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“…59 The reported data in Table 5 suggest that the tested mask has limited protection against aerosols after ionizing radiation sterilization, which is consistent with previous studies. 9,20,21,24,39…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…59 The reported data in Table 5 suggest that the tested mask has limited protection against aerosols after ionizing radiation sterilization, which is consistent with previous studies. 9,20,21,24,39…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…For future research, monitoring the potential changes in the physical properties of decontaminated FFRs, such as size, color, solidity, and smell, should be considered [ 52 ]. Furthermore, the electrostatic charge analysis in the filtration layer within FFRs following VHP cycles should be considered a new aspect of FFR evaluation in further research [ 53 ]. Additionally, the 3D-printed specialized air duct could be used to evaluate other FFR decontamination methods and the efficiency of non-medical masks such as surgical and cloth masks.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Chemical-based agents such as hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, ethanol, isopropanol, and detergents also decrease filtration efficiency, and lingering chemical residues can generate unpleasant odors and damage the skin (Derraik et al 2020 ; Jung et al 2020 ; McEvoy et al 2019 ; Viscusi et al 2009 ). While gamma irradiation is widely used to sterilize medical devices, it also reduces the filtration performance of respiratory devices (DeAngelis et al 2021 ). Exposure to ultraviolet C (UV-C, 200–280 nm) light is one of the most commonly used sterilization methods (Jang et al 2022 ) because it is effective against bacterial cells and spores with little to no effect on filtration efficiency in respiratory devices.…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%