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Effects of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) on N95 respirator filtration performance and structural integrity
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2015
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Details:
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Alternative Title:figshare Academic Research System
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Journal Article:Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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Corporate Authors:Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ; Biostatistics and Epidemiology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ; Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch, Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ; Field Studies Branch, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ; Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ; ... More +
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Description:The ability to disinfect and reuse disposable N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) may be needed during a pandemic of an infectious respiratory disease such as influenza. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is one possible method for respirator disinfection. However, UV radiation degrades polymers, which presents the possibility that UVGI exposure could degrade the ability of a disposable respirator to protect the worker. To study this, we exposed both sides of material coupons and respirator straps from four models of N95 FFRs to UVGI doses from 120 to 950 J/cm2. We then tested the particle penetration, flow resistance and the bursting strengths of the individual respirator coupon layers, and the breaking strength of the respirator straps. We found that UVGI exposure led to a small increase in particle penetration (up to 1.25%) and had little effect on the flow resistance. UVGI exposure had a more pronounced effect on the strengths of the respirator materials. At the higher UVGI doses, the strength of the layers of respirator material was substantially reduced (in some cases, by >90%). The changes in the strengths of the respirator materials varied considerably among the different models of respirators. UVGI had less of an effect on the respirator straps; a dose of 2360 J/cm2 reduced the breaking strength of the straps by 20% to 51%. Our results suggest that UVGI could be used to effectively disinfect disposable respirators for reuse, but the maximum number of disinfection cycles will be limited by the respirator model and the UVGI dose required to inactivate the pathogen.
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Content Notes:Stacks:37235
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Modified:01/19/2016
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Date Issued:01/01/2015
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