Topic

Reusable Surgical Masks

Admin *
Admin * • 26 May 2021
8 comments

Now, more than ever, is the time we need to introduce reusable surgical masks.

Over the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an exponential increase in the use of masks worldwide, which has been met with a shortage of them too. TU Delft’s Department of BioMechanical Engineering has been working on reusable surgical masks, such as sterilisation of used masks and the use different materials. This is paving the way for a sustainable future!

Click on the link to view the article and video of this incredible work. https://www.tudelft.nl/en/2020/3me/march/tu-delft-works-on-reusable-surgical-masks-with-reinier-de-graaf-and-vsm 

Comments (8)

Pallavi Devula
Pallavi Devula • 2 years ago

Hi I recently heard of GP practices that are using reusable masks in a healthcare setting- can anyone point me to where we can go to buy these masks please?

Hadyn Oliver
Hadyn Oliver • 2 years ago

These here are reusable face masks that are 98% filtration efficient, and said to be like the Type IIR mask.  Don't think they have been trialled in hospitals yet though.  Maybe worth getting in touch?

Frank Swinton
Frank Swinton • 2 years ago

Alexis Percival at Yorkshire Ambulance Service did a huge trial of different masks. She's the expert. She produced a 30 page summary of her trial which I've included below.

Jasmine Winter Beatty
Jasmine Winter Beatty • 2 years ago

Hello Frank, thank you for sharing the report. It has some very useful information but I was wondering if you have a link to a published/peer-reviewed version by any chance as the one you shared has no usable references.

Thank you!

Frank Swinton
Frank Swinton • 2 years ago

Hi Jasmine, I don't think it's been published. I'm not sure if the manufacturers have published evidence of non-inferiority. I guess you'd have to ask them. Sorry!

Jasmine Winter Beatty
Jasmine Winter Beatty • 2 years ago

Thank you Frank, what I was really after was the LCA assessments of single-use vs re-usable as I wanted to quote the 1 kgCo2e difference/use. I might try to contact Alexis on twitter. Thank you again! 

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