Facemasks and UV Sterilization: The shortage of facemasks may be not too serious.
Media and experts seem being in exaggerated dispute with the CDC guideline for facemasks in the coronavirus pandemic time and overstated worry about shortage might lead to worse situation of the outbreak. My first thought is using ultraviolet sterilization to re-use the masks so the fearful crisis of shortage for medical front line may never happen. And here is what I found in a related research published on the American Journal of Public Health.
We do need face masks. The researchers[1] asserts that if one assumes that the virus is transmitted by respiratory droplets (> 10 μm in size, which immediately fall to the ground) rather than by aerosols (< 10 μm in size, which remain suspended in air for long periods of time), the supposition may be that keeping a safe distance may obviate the need for a mask. The next question is which type of mask is the best for us and the researchers also indicate the best is the N–100 respirator, which is 99.999% effective, 10 times expensive in compare with the N–95 respirator, which can block 95% of particulate aerosols from penetrating the mask.
UV light can sterilize infectious aerosols. UV lights are used routinely to sterilize work areas and equipment from small nail salons, dental offices to large medical facilities and laboratories. UV light applications are also well used commercially in drinking water treatment and food pasteurizing. In the laboratory, UV light can inactivate 99.99% of influenza virus aerosols.
In sum, I believe that facemask wearing should be highly recommended, without leading to the imaginative crisis of face mask shortage for health care workers. Because there are so many places having UV sterilizing equipment, not only hospitals but also almost every sanitary-related outlet in our neighborhood, the shortage of facemask is not too serious for the conventional triage obsession and keep people away from a proper protector that may increase statistical chance to save their life. Health care researchers may find more supporting researches and practical evidences, please share your professional voices on this matter. God Bless America!
