Development of an Ultraviolet-C Irradiation Room in a Public Portuguese Hospital for Safe Re-Utilization of Personal Protective Respirators

Jorge Padrão, Talita Nicolau, Helena P. Felgueiras, Carla Calçada, Maria Isabel Veiga, Nuno S. Osório, Marcos S. Martins, Nuno Dourado, António Taveira-Gomes, Fernando Ferreira and Andrea Zille
Additional contact information
Jorge Padrão: Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Talita Nicolau: Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Helena P. Felgueiras: Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Carla Calçada: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Maria Isabel Veiga: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Nuno S. Osório: Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Marcos S. Martins: Center for MicroElectroMechanics Systems (CMEMS), School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
Nuno Dourado: Center for MicroElectroMechanics Systems (CMEMS), School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal
António Taveira-Gomes: Department of Surgery, Pedro Hispano Hospital, Local Health Unit Matosinhos (Public-Private Partnerships), 4464-513 Senhora da Hora, Portugal
Fernando Ferreira: Department of Surgery, Pedro Hispano Hospital, Local Health Unit Matosinhos (Public-Private Partnerships), 4464-513 Senhora da Hora, Portugal
Andrea Zille: Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), School of Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: UV-C; respirators; masks; SARS-CoV-2; waste mitigation; reutilization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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