N95 mask reuse recommended by uv disinfection. Dr.Sergey Greenspan, director of the health-related Aerosol Research Center at the University of Cincinnati and professor of environmental and public health sciences at the University of California, said many health systems are considering disinfecting and reusing masks that were originally used as disposable items because of a lack of personal protective equipment.
Grishpen said N95 masks and some surgical masks rely on statically charged fibers that capture small particles and protect the wearer. High pressure steam sterilization and alcohol treatment weaken this static electricity.
“N95 mask reuse, What happens when you treat something with alcohol, heat or steam,” he said? These fibers may not lose all of them, but at least some of their charge will be lost. This may also have an adverse effect on the performance of these aerosol filters.
For those with the most penetrating sizes, some N95 masks may have a collection efficiency below the 95% certification level, grishborn said.
He added that the performance of surgical masks can be changed by high-pressure steam, whether or not the masks are soiled, the impact will be more pronounced for devices with poor initial filtration capacity.
Instead of using high-pressure steam or alcohol to disinfect general masks and N95 masks, he said, alternatives such as ultraviolet disinfection could be explored.