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Development of an ultraviolet-c irradiation room in a public Portuguese hospital for safe re-utilization of personal protective respirators

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Resumo:Almost two years have passed since COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. However, it still holds a tight grasp on the entire human population. Several variants of concern, one after another, have spread throughout the world. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) omicron variant may become the fastest spreading virus in history. Therefore, it is more than evident that the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) will continue to play a pivotal role during the current pandemic. This work depicts an integrative approach attesting to the effectiveness of ultra-violet-C (UV-C) energy density for the sterilization of personal protective equipment, in particular FFP2 respirators used by the health care staff in intensive care units. It is increasingly clear that this approach should not be limited to health care units. Due to the record-breaking spreading rates of SARS-CoV-2, it is apparent that the use of PPE, in particular masks and respirators, will remain a critical tool to mitigate future pandemics. Therefore, similar UV-C disinfecting rooms should be considered for use within institutions and companies and even incorporated within household devices to avoid PPE shortages and, most importantly, to reduce environmental burdens.
Autores principais:Padrão, Jorge
Outros Autores:Negreiros, Talita Nicolau Oliveira Vidal; Felgueiras, Helena Prado; Calçada, Carla Sofia Martins; Veiga, Maria Isabel; Osório, Nuno S.; Martins, Marcos Silva; Dourado, N.; Taveira-Gomes, António; Ferreira, Fernando; Zille, Andrea
Assunto:UV-C Respirators Masks SARS-CoV-2 Waste mitigation Reutilization Textile COVID-19 Engenharia e Tecnologia::Engenharia dos Materiais
Ano:2022
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:artigo
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:Universidade do Minho
Idioma:inglês
Origem:RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho

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