UVC-LED-based face mask design and efficacy against common germs

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Gelir A., AŞICIOĞLU F., SALMAN YILMAZ S., Kuskucu M., Doymaz M. Z., Ozdemir O. B., ...Daha Fazla

ARHIV ZA HIGIJENU RADA I TOKSIKOLOGIJU-ARCHIVES OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGY, cilt.74, sa.4, ss.282-287, 2023 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 74 Sayı: 4
  • Basım Tarihi: 2023
  • Doi Numarası: 10.2478/aiht-2023-74-3766
  • Dergi Adı: ARHIV ZA HIGIJENU RADA I TOKSIKOLOGIJU-ARCHIVES OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENE AND TOXICOLOGY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, Greenfile, Pollution Abstracts, SportDiscus, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.282-287
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 influenza virus, antibacterial mask, corona virus, COVID-19, P. aeruginosa, protective mask, public health, S. aureus
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • Bezmiâlem Vakıf Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

During the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the best means of personal protection was using face masks. In this context, the World Health Organization has declared the attempts to produce masks inactivating airborne virus species a welcome initiative. This preliminary study aimed to prove that airborne germs passing through a mask filter cartridge can be destroyed by the rays emitted from UVC LEDs placed in such cartridge. We therefore designed such a face mask and tested the efficiency of UVC LEDs placed in its cartridge against common contaminants, gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 virus because of its similarity with SARS CoV-2. Eight UVC LEDs with a total power of 75 mW provided sufficient germicidal effect for all three germs. In terms of safety, ozone production released during UVC LED emission was negligible. Our findings are promising, as they show that well-designed UVC-based face masks can be effective against airborne germs, but further research on a greater sample may help us learn more and optimise such face masks.