Germicidal Ultraviolet Light Does Not Damage or Impede Performance of N95 Masks Upon Multiple Uses
Germicidal Ultraviolet Light Does Not Damage or Impede Performance of N95 Masks Upon Multiple Uses
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DOI：
10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00416
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发表时间：
2020-08-11
影响因子：
10.9
通讯作者：
Westerhoff, Paul
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Zhao, Zhe;Zhang, Zhaobo;Westerhoff, Paul
COVID-19疫情令全球对个人防护装备（PPE）的需求增加，包括医护人员对口罩的需求。消毒和重复使用这些口罩可能会在短期内产生效益，以满足紧急需求。紫外线杀菌提供了一种非化学的、易于部署的技术，能够实现口罩上H1N1病毒的灭活。通过使用N95等级口罩和非等级外科口罩，我们证明了在1和10 J/cm（2）下的254或265 nm UV-C照射对口罩去除气溶胶病毒大小颗粒的能力没有不利影响。额外的测试显示，面罩中多层的聚合物结构、形态或表面疏水性没有变化，并且面罩材料的压降或拉伸强度没有变化。当应用254 nm低压UV灯和265 nm发光二极管时，结果相似。根据医护人员的意见及我们的研究结果，我们制定了处理系统及操作手册，以处理及重用N95口罩。在这项研究中获得的知识可以为处理和重复使用口罩的技术经济分析或选择的生命周期评估提供信息，以减少医疗保健系统中使用的一次性PPE的巨大废物产生，特别是在大流行期间。
The COVID-19 pandemic is increasing the need for personal protective equipment (PPE) worldwide, including the demand for facial mask used by healthcare workers. Disinfecting and reusing these masks may off benefits in the short term to meet urgent demand. Germicidal ultraviolet light provides a nonchemical, easily deployable technology capable of achieving inactivation of H1N1 virus on masks. Working with N95-rated masks and nonrated surgical masks, we demonstrated that neither 254 nor 265 nm UV-C irradiation at 1 and 10 J/cm(2) had adverse effects on the masks' ability to remove aerosolized virus-sized particles. Additional testing showed no change in polymer structure, morphology, or surface hydrophobicity for multiple layers in the masks and no change in pressure drop or tensile strength of the mask materials. Results were similar when applying 254 nm low-pressure UV lamps and 265 nm light-emitting diodes. On the basis of the input from healthcare workers and our findings, a treatment system and operational manual were prepared to enable treatment and reuse of N95 facial masks. Knowledge gained during this study can inform techno-economic analyses for treating and reusing masks or lifecycle assessments of options to reduce the enormous waste production of single-use PPE used in the healthcare system, especially during pandemics.