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

• Published in: Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju Vol. 74; no. 4; pp. 282 - 287
• Main Authors: Gelir, Ali, Asicioglu, Faruk, Yilmaz, Aysegul S., Kuskucu, Mert, Doymaz, Mehmet, Özdemir, Onur B., Sarıbal, Devrim, Salman, Seda, Kadi, Ömer F., Özdemir, Sedat, Seyhan, Sinem N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Croatia Sciendo 01-12-2023; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health
• Subjects: A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 influenza virus; ABS resins; Acrylonitrile; Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene; Aerosols; Air flow; antibacterial mask; antibakterijska maska; Bacteria; Cartridges; corona virus; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; Design; Disease transmission; Disinfection; Durability; Filter paper; Gram-negative bacteria; Humans; Influenza; javno zdravstvo; koronavirus; Laboratories; Lactose; Lice; Light emitting diodes; Masks; Microorganisms; Original; p. aeruginosa; Pandemics; Pandemics - prevention & control; Protective equipment; protective mask; public health; s. aureus; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Styrene; Three dimensional printing; Tubes; virus influence A/Puerto Rico/8/1934; Viruses; zaštitna maska; Istanbul Turkey; Puerto Rico; Turkey; United States > US; China; Germany; koronavirus; antibakterijska maska; COVID-19; virus influence A/Puerto Rico/8/1934; S. aureus; zaštitna maska; protective mask; A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 influenza virus; public health; P. aeruginosa; antibacterial mask; corona virus; javno zdravstvo
• ISSN: 1848-6312; 0004-1254; 1848-6312
• DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2023-74-3766

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
, gram-negative
, 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.