Researchers join forces to study how best to decontaminate N95 masks

n95 protective masks

Margaret Gardel, PhD, director, Material Research Science and Engineering Center and professor of physics, and Allison Squires, PhD, assistant professor of molecular engineering, and general surgery resident Brian Fleischer, MD, from the University of Chicago along with a team of 60 scientists, engineers, students and clinicians from both the private sector and universities, unveiled N95decon.org. This website synthesizes scientific literature about mask decontamination to create a set of best practices to decontaminate and reuse this protective face covering during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While there is no perfect method for decontamination of N95 masks, it is crucial that decision-makers and users have as much information as possible about the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches,” said Manu Prakash, an associate professor at Stanford University who helped coordinate the volunteer undertaking. “We aim to provide information and evidence in this critical time to help those on the front lines of this crisis make risk-management decisions given the specific conditions and limitations they face.”

The group examined hundreds of peer-reviewed publications regarding main methods of decontamination, and engaged academic and industrial experts in many conversations. Their report focuses on three of these methods: heat, ultraviolet light and vaporized hydrogen peroxide.

The team synthesized current knowledge on the three methods, exposing their documented strengths and weaknesses, and importantly, pointing out knowledge gaps in their application.

The scientists did not endorse any one method, but instead sought to describe the circumstances under which each could inactivate the virus provided rigorous procedures were followed. Devices that rely on heat, for instance, could be used under specific temperature, humidity, and time parameters. With ultraviolet C light, considerations involve making sure masks are properly oriented to the light so the entire surface is bathed in sufficient energy. They also found that the hydrogen peroxide method could potentially be used to decontaminate masks in volume – a recommendation that is backed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which has already certified certain vendors to offer hydrogen peroxide vapor treatments on a large scale.

N95decon.org will help facilitate the rapid deployment of these emergency measures by pointing decision-makers to sources of reliable and detailed how-to information provided by other organizations, institutions and commercial services. For example, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on March 31 released a data-driven fact sheet and a detailed overview for implementing the same three decontamination methods.

The researchers reiterated, however, that the best practice is to use new N95 masks whenever possible. “Decontamination approaches do not solve the N95 shortage crisis and should only be considered as emergency interventions with unknown safety and efficacy,” the group said in a statement. “We aim to provide information and evidence in this critical time to help decision-makers make risk-management decisions, given the specific conditions and limitations they face.”

The group will continue to work to develop new studies on N95 mask decontamination, both for basic science and real-world application.

This N95DECON consortium includes scientists from Stanford University, the University of California-San Francisco, the University of California-Berkeley, the University of Chicago, Georgetown University, Harvard University, Seattle University, University of Utah, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan, as well as professionals from companies such as Consolidated Sterilizers and X, the Moonshot Factory.

This story first appeared on the UChicago News website.