COVID-19: Cleaning & Disinfecting of PPE for Effective Reuse Webinar
About the Webinar
Originally presented April 29, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption in supply chains across multiple sectors including the shortage of critical personal protective equipment (PPE). In addition to hand washing and surface disinfection, various PPE items are used to prevent contact with the virus via droplet/aerosol transmission, thereby reducing potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Effective, low-technology, disinfection methods for certain specialized-use items, such as filtering-facepiece respirators, medical-use masks, face shields, and body coveralls, as well as non-specialized items, like procedural masks, face coverings, clothing, and shoes, are limited outside of healthcare setting applications.
EPA researchers are undertaking research evaluating the effectiveness of selected disinfection/cleaning technologies and commercial off-the-shelf products for these specialized and non-specialized PPE items for potential reuse during the pandemic. The evaluation includes disinfection efficacy tests coupled with wear cycles and integrity tests on the PPE materials after exposure to disinfectants to reflect real-world use of such items and to help determine whether it impacts the wearer. During this webinar, researchers will discuss their evaluation of disinfection techniques and cleaning protocols that can be used for the disinfection of disposable and reusable PPE contaminated with viruses. This information will help responders and the general public understand what type of low-tech disinfection/cleaning is most effective without the loss of integrity and relieve pressure on the supply chain which has struggled to keep up with demand of PPE.
About the Speakers
John Archer is a Research Industrial Hygienist within EPA’s Office of Research and Development’s Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Homeland Security and Materials Management Division. His current research areas include chemical/biological decontamination of personal protective equipment (PPE) and environmental surfaces, resuspension of biological particles from indoor/outdoor surfaces, bioaerosol sampling methods and strategies, exposure assessment to chemical, biological, and radiological threats, and testing and evaluation of emergency response sampling instrumentation. He currently manages EPA’s Aerosol Test Facility in RTP, NC which includes a large closed-loop aerosol wind tunnel used for aerosol and bioaerosol research studies. John holds an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is also a Certified Industrial Hygienist.
Anne Mikelonis is a researcher in the EPA’s Office of Research and Development’s Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Homeland Security and Materials Management Division. Her current work focuses on the fate and transport of biological and radiological contaminants in urban areas. Previously, her research focused on physical/chemical water and wastewater treatment processes and nanoparticle synthesis and characterization. Anne holds a B.S. in civil engineering from Northwestern University (Evanston, Illinois), a M.Eng. in environmental engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Boston), and a Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She is also a registered professional engineer in the state of North Carolina.