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Dry Heat Can Effectively Sanitize N95 Masks

Nov, 2020

The virus may spread through small drops (aerosols) ejected from an infected person's mouth and nose.

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the use of face masks to prevent the spread of the virus has become ubiquitous worldwide. The virus has made its way to almost every corner of the world and has infected more than 22 million individuals across the globe. There is a high demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), including N95 masks and surgical masks. N95 face masks are quite effective in preventing the transmission of the virus, however, they are intended to be used for a short period. A new study has now found a new technique that can be used to sanitize N95 masks.

Moreover, they can be cleaned effectively for extended use. According to new research, dry heat from an electric cooker can effectively sanitize N95 masks. The research was published in the Environmental Science & Technology Letters journal. The use of PPE is an important part of the world's effort to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. The virus may spread through small drops (aerosols) ejected from an infected person's mouth and nose.

An individual can be exposed to either the droplets being in the immediate radius or later touching a surface with virus particles on it. Personal protective kits protect the wearer from infection and prevent the wearer from spreading the virus. An N95 mask meets the United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) N95 classification of air filtration, meaning that it filters at least 95% of airborne particles. According to Thanh Nguyen, co-author of the research, a surgical mask or cloth mask protects others from droplets that the wearer may expel, however, the N95 mask protects them by filtering out small particles that might carry the virus.