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http://dx.doi.org/10.48022/mbl.2109.09015

Bactericidal Effect of Ultraviolet and Dry Treatment on Bacterial Contaminants in Facial Masks  

Park, Seul-Ki (Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan)
Lee, Da-eun (Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University)
Jo, Du-Min (Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University)
Song, Mi-Ru (Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University)
Kim, Young-Mog (Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University)
Publication Information
Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters / v.50, no.1, 2022 , pp. 95-101 More about this Journal
Abstract
Due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19, the demand for face masks is soaring and has often caused a shortage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ultraviolet (UV) and drying treatments on microbial contaminants in facial masks. To conduct this study, standard procedures were designed to develop samples contaminated by the control bacteria Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The contamination level of the standard samples was approximately 6.30 × 106 CFU/ml, and the UV light treatment was performed 1, 3, 5, and 7 times. To evaluate the effect of the UV and drying treatments, the masks were first treated with UV 1, 2, and 3 times, followed by the drying process. As a result, the mask contaminated with E. coli and P. aeruginosa showed a bacterial rate of approximately 99.9% after 1 UV irradiation, and in the case of the S. aureus-contaminated mask, it exhibited a bactericidal rate of approximately 99.9% after 7 UV irradiations. However, when the drying process was included after UV irradiation, all the samples contaminated with E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa showed a bactericidal rate of 99.9% or more. The results of this study suggest that UV and drying treatments can effectively reduce the bacterial contaminants in facial masks. In addition, these results provide fundamental data and appropriate sterilization methods for reusing masks.
Keywords
Bacterial contaminants; sterilization; UV light; facial mask; drying;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
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