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Researchers at the University of New Hampshire are learning how to use ultraviolet light to disinfect N95 masks.“We’ve worked in ultraviolet probably for about 30 years,” said professor James Malley, who specializes in disinfection. Since March, Malley and his team of five students have studied nine devices to find ways for front-line workers to reuse their protective equipment.“We’re using what we call a nebulizer to put virus in an aerosol and put it on the mask,” he said. “These viruses are surrogates. They’re not human risk at all.”“And then, basically, we put it in the devices that we’re testing, and we dose with ultraviolet for a certain period of time,” he continued.They’ve found that the vast majority of UV devices for sale on the consumer market are not effective.“You get what you pay for, if you will,” Malley said. “If you look at some of the home medical equipment or the commercial lab equipment or things hospitals are already using, they are pretty good. They have been very effective.” “We’ve also found that time really doesn’t matter. What really matters is the UV dose,” he added. While the focus right now is developing technology to help health care workers, Malley says research will continue through next year. The ultimate goal is to create a UV device that could disinfect everyday items.“And perhaps use for a cellphone or a car key or a toothbrush,” Malley said. “Anything that people might want to put into these UV devices other than the N95 mask.”While their work has been promising, Malley said UV does not replace the need to wear masks, social distance and wash your hands. He stressed that the technology would just be another tool in preventing viral spread.

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