Researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the United States have developed a new N95 face mask that can not only reduce COVID-19 spread but also kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus upon contact with it. The mask can potentially be worn longer, causing less plastic waste as it does not need to be replaced as frequently.

As reported by PTI, Edmund Palermo, from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute said, “We think the work is the first step toward longer-lasting, self-sterilising personal protective equipment, such as the N95 respirator. It may help reduce transmission of airborne pathogens in general."

In research recently published in the journal Applied ACS Materials and Interfaces, the team successfully grafted broad-spectrum antimicrobial polymers onto the polypropylene filters used in N95 face masks. The active filtration layers in N95 masks are very sensitive to chemical modification. It can make them perform worse in terms of filtration, so they essentially no longer perform like N95s. They are made out of polypropylene, which is difficult to chemically modify.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/udaipur-terror-attack-how-my-hometown-turned-into-a-curfew-zone-494414">Udaipur terror attack: How my hometown turned into a curfew zone &nbsp;</a>

The team, including researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, attached antimicrobial quaternary ammonium polymers to the fibre surfaces of nonwoven polypropylene fabrics using ultraviolet (UV)-initiated grafting. The team used only UV light and acetone in their process, which is widely available, to make it easy to implement.

The process can be applied to already manufactured polypropylene filters, rather than necessitating the development of new ones, the researchers said, as reported by PTI. The team did see a decrease in filtration efficiency when the process was applied directly to the filtration layer of N95 masks, but the solution is straightforward, they said. The user could wear an unaltered N95 mask along with another polypropylene layer with the antimicrobial polymer on top, according to the researchers.

(with inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the United States have developed a new N95 face mask that can not only reduce COVID-19 spread but also kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus upon contact with it.

Researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the United States have developed a new N95 face mask that can not only reduce COVID-19 spread but also kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus upon contact with it. The mask can potentially be worn longer, causing less plastic waste as it does not need to be replaced as frequently. As reported by PTI, Edmund Palermo, from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute said, “We think the work is the first step toward longer-lasting, self-sterilising personal protective equipment, such as the N95 respirator. It may help reduce transmission of airborne pathogens in general." In research recently published in the journal Applied ACS Materials and Interfaces, the team successfully grafted broad-spectrum antimicrobial polymers onto the polypropylene filters used in N95 face masks. The active filtration layers in N95 masks are very sensitive to chemical modification. It can make them perform worse in terms of filtration, so they essentially no longer perform like N95s. They are made out of polypropylene, which is difficult to chemically modify. Also Read: Udaipur terror attack: How my hometown turned into a curfew zone The team, including researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US, attached antimicrobial quaternary ammonium polymers to the fibre surfaces of nonwoven polypropylene fabrics using ultraviolet (UV)-initiated grafting. The team used only UV light and acetone in their process, which is widely available, to make it easy to implement. The process can be applied to already manufactured polypropylene filters, rather than necessitating the development of new ones, the researchers said, as reported by PTI. The team did see a decrease in filtration efficiency when the process was applied directly to the filtration layer of N95 masks, but the solution is straightforward, they said. The user could wear an unaltered N95 mask along with another polypropylene layer with the antimicrobial polymer on top, according to the researchers. (with inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Researchers develop self-sterilising N95 mask that can kill Covid virus

As per the latest study published&nbsp;in the <a href="https://www.ucf.edu/news/face-masks-cut-distance-airborne-pathogens-could-travel-in-half-new-study-finds/">Journal of Infectious Diseases</a>, the face masks help in reducing the distance airborne pathogens could travel when speaking or coughing by more than half compared to not wearing a mask. &nbsp;

Ever since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic wreaked havoc across the world, scientists and health experts have been advocating the usage of face masks to curb the spread of the virus.

Now, the new study by researchers at the University of Central Florida offers&nbsp;insight. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of face masks has been a debated topic by some people.&nbsp;

As Covid cases continue to rise globally due to the Omicron variant, protection against the virus should be the priority.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-pandemic-benefit-face-masks-help-people-look-good-says-uk-study-444609">Covid pandemic benefit? Face masks help people look good, says UK study</a>

The latest study found that&nbsp;without face coverings, droplets/aerosols were detected up to a maximum of 1.25m during speech and up to 1.37m while coughing.

The study mentioned that in addition, the use of face coverings was highly effective in reducing the count of expelled aerosols also.&nbsp;

The coverings made up of cloth reduced maximum axial distances to 0.61m for speech and to 0.67m while coughing respectively.&nbsp;

On the other hand, the safe distance was reduced further to 0.15m measured for both emission scenarios while using the disposable face covering.&nbsp;

What about N95 masks? How long should you wear your N95 face masks?

As reported by CNN, properly fitted N95 face masks better prevent tiny particles from getting into your nose or mouth as compared to cloth masks.

The material that is used to make N95, such as polypropylene fibres, act as both mechanical and electrostatic barriers to shared air.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnsons-staff-accused-of-hosting-covid-rule-breaking-parties-on-the-eve-of-prince-philips-funeral-444602" hreflang="en">Boris Johnson's staff accused of hosting Covid rule-breaking parties on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral</a>

Are N95 face masks reusable? 

This has been one of the most debated topics during the pandemic so far. The comparative higher price has been one of the reasons for such talks as people use their N95s multiple times. &nbsp;

"I wear mine for a week,"&nbsp;Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech as quoted by CNN.

"An N95 mask's material and filtration ability aren't going to degrade unless you physically rub it or poke holes in it. You'd have to be in really polluted air... for several days before it lost its ability to filter out particles. So, you can really wear them for a long time," Marr said.&nbsp;

"People have been talking about 40 hours - I think that's fine. Really, it's going to get gross from your face or the straps will get too loose or maybe break before you're going to lose filtration ability," she added.&nbsp;

On the other hand, Erin Bromage, who is an associate professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth weighed in on would the N95s be used more than one time.

As quoted by CNN,&nbsp;Bromage said that the reason why N95 masks are designated as "single-use" is that they're categorised as medical masks.&nbsp;

But Bromage added that if a person is safely reusing N95 maks, then one mask can be used for at least two or three days.&nbsp;

Are N95s reusable?

Both the experts, Marr and&nbsp;have said that if the mask becomes damp, dirty, bent, creased, it should be replaced.

"The longer you wear it, the more it's actually trapping material - which means that the breathability, the resistance of the mask, starts to decrease," Bromage said.

How to sanitise N95s?

Marr said that the contamination particles will go away over the course of a few to several hours. It can happen faster if the N95s are put aside in sunlight. &nbsp;

The CNN report also mentioned that N95 masks have a special static charge that helps filter out viruses and if a person wants to sanitise it, he/she can wash the masks because water will dissipate the charge.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-3-videos-china-doesnt-want-you-to-see-444534/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

As per the latest study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, the face masks help in reducing the distance airborne pathogens could travel when speaking or coughing by more than half compared to not wearing a mask.

As per the latest study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, the face masks help in reducing the distance airborne pathogens could travel when speaking or coughing by more than half compared to not wearing a mask. Ever since the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic wreaked havoc across the world, scientists and health experts have been advocating the usage of face masks to curb the spread of the virus. Now, the new study by researchers at the University of Central Florida offers insight. Meanwhile, the effectiveness of face masks has been a debated topic by some people. As Covid cases continue to rise globally due to the Omicron variant, protection against the virus should be the priority. ALSO READ | Covid pandemic benefit? Face masks help people look good, says UK study The latest study found that without face coverings, droplets/aerosols were detected up to a maximum of 1.25m during speech and up to 1.37m while coughing. The study mentioned that in addition, the use of face coverings was highly effective in reducing the count of expelled aerosols also. The coverings made up of cloth reduced maximum axial distances to 0.61m for speech and to 0.67m while coughing respectively. On the other hand, the safe distance was reduced further to 0.15m measured for both emission scenarios while using the disposable face covering. What about N95 masks? How long should you wear your N95 face masks? As reported by CNN, properly fitted N95 face masks better prevent tiny particles from getting into your nose or mouth as compared to cloth masks. The material that is used to make N95, such as polypropylene fibres, act as both mechanical and electrostatic barriers to shared air. ALSO READ | Boris Johnson's staff accused of hosting Covid rule-breaking parties on the eve of Prince Philip's funeral Are N95 face masks reusable? This has been one of the most debated topics during the pandemic so far. The comparative higher price has been one of the reasons for such talks as people use their N95s multiple times. "I wear mine for a week," Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech as quoted by CNN. "An N95 mask's material and filtration ability aren't going to degrade unless you physically rub it or poke holes in it. You'd have to be in really polluted air... for several days before it lost its ability to filter out particles. So, you can really wear them for a long time," Marr said. "People have been talking about 40 hours - I think that's fine. Really, it's going to get gross from your face or the straps will get too loose or maybe break before you're going to lose filtration ability," she added. On the other hand, Erin Bromage, who is an associate professor of biology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth weighed in on would the N95s be used more than one time. As quoted by CNN, Bromage said that the reason why N95 masks are designated as "single-use" is that they're categorised as medical masks. But Bromage added that if a person is safely reusing N95 maks, then one mask can be used for at least two or three days. Are N95s reusable? Both the experts, Marr and have said that if the mask becomes damp, dirty, bent, creased, it should be replaced. "The longer you wear it, the more it's actually trapping material - which means that the breathability, the resistance of the mask, starts to decrease," Bromage said. How to sanitise N95s? Marr said that the contamination particles will go away over the course of a few to several hours. It can happen faster if the N95s are put aside in sunlight. The CNN report also mentioned that N95 masks have a special static charge that helps filter out viruses and if a person wants to sanitise it, he/she can wash the masks because water will dissipate the charge. ×

COVID-19: Which face mask is better? Experts weigh in on how long should you wear N95 masks

A growing number of African countries have made it compulsory to wear masks in public to prevent the spread of the highly infectious respiratory disease. Fashion lovers in the continent's biggest cities are combining style and safety by donning colourful masks, sometimes coordinating the fabric with their outfits.

Style-conscious Africans turn compulsory masks into fashion accessories

As researchers scramble to find a way to safely disinfect N95 masks for reuse, many are turning to the man behind its virus-blocking technology. Peter Tsai invented the filtration fabric inside the mask nearly 30 years ago, and spent decades perfecting it, before retiring from the University of Tennessee last year.

N95 mask inventor abandons retirement plans to aid in COVID-19 crisis

n95-face-mask

N95 Face Mask, News on N95 Face Mask, stories on N95 Face Mask, articles on N95 Face Mask, N95 Face Mask stories at Wion, N95 Face Mask news, N95 Face Mask latest news

n95 face-mask

Researchers develop self-sterilising N95 mask that can kill Covid virus

COVID-19: Which face mask is better? Experts weigh in on how long should you wear N95 masks

Style-conscious Africans turn compulsory masks into fashion accessories

N95 mask inventor abandons retirement plans to aid in COVID-19 crisis