From: "LaCroix, Steve (DOH)" <Steve.LaCroix**At_Symbol_Here**DOH.WA.GOV>
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] COVID-19 Question - Respirators
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2020 19:52:27 +0000
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Message-ID: cb4599c3892346879a85cf15a86407ad**At_Symbol_Here**DOH.WA.GOV


When recommending alterations to your respirator program and respirator use remember that N95 respirators are the lowest quality of respirators available. They are primarily designed for one time use and come in various designs. It is important that the user use them correctly and that they fit. You should consider a reusable tight fitting face piece. These can be cleaned, disinfected, etc. and reused. They are a better quality than the N95‰??s, easier to do a User Seal check and are usually P100 level. We have had 65+ employees in our respirator program using these for many years.

silicone
https://www.honeywellsafety.com/Products/Respiratory_Protection/7700_Series_Half_Mask_(North_Brand).aspx?site=/ca

rubber
https://www.honeywellsafety.com/Products/Respiratory_Protection/5500_Series_Half_Mask_(North_Brand).aspx?site=/ca&LangType=1033

Note silicone & rubber; S, M & L

I have included a note from Richie regarding one idea for storing N95's.

I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Thanks.

Steve


From: absabiosafety**At_Symbol_Here**mail-list.com [mailto:absabiosafety**At_Symbol_Here**mail-list.com] On Behalf Of Richard Fink
Sent: Saturday, March 21, 2020 7:30 PM
To: absabiosafety**At_Symbol_Here**mail-list.com
Subject: Re: [ABSABiosafety] Decontamination of N95s
May I suggest a very gentle way to decontaminate the respirators -- time. Assign 4 N-95 per person, at the end of the day carefully remove and place in a ziplock bag. Use #2 and repeat; use #3 and repeat; use #4 and repeat. Day 5, unzip N-95 #1 and wear, it has been decontaminated. I think I would add silica gel or some other desiccant to absorb the moisture from the respirator after a day of wear. Continue this cycle until the respirator gets damaged, noticeably soiled or no longer fits properly.
Richie Fink
BSO - emeritus
Sent from Outlook Mobile


Steve LaCroix
Disease Control and Health Statistics
Washington State Department of Health
steve.lacroix**At_Symbol_Here**doh.wa.gov
206-418-5437 | www.doh.wa.gov

-----Original Message-----
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU] On Behalf Of Monique Wilhelm
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2020 12:09 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] COVID-19 Question

A friend who is a surgical nurse has explained to me that they are using the cloth masks to cover their N-95s so that they can remove the cover mask and replace if there is a noticeable splatter incident, thereby making the N-95 masks effective for a longer period. They are then reusing the N-95 without specific instruction for storage....she asked me how to store. I have no answer.

Monique

_________________________________________________________

Monique Wilhelm, M.S., NRCC Certified CHO

ACS CHAS Secretary|2017 CERM E. Ann Nalley Award Recipient

Laboratory Manager|Adjunct Lecturer|Chemistry Club Advisor

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry|University of Michigan-Flint

Email: mwilhelm**At_Symbol_Here**umich.edu


Monique

_________________________________________________________

Monique Wilhelm, M.S., NRCC Certified CHO

ACS CHAS Secretary|2017 CERM E. Ann Nalley Award Recipient

Laboratory Manager|Adjunct Lecturer|Chemistry Club Advisor

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry|University of Michigan-Flint

Email: mwilhelm**At_Symbol_Here**umich.edu


On Mon, Mar 23, 2020 at 3:03 PM Lawrence M Gibbs wrote:
>
> Hi Tried sending this with document attached but was rejected by site.
> So am placing a link here that I hope will get one to the site of the
> same document: Final Report for the Bioquell Hydrogen Peroxide Vapor
> (HPV) Decontamination for Reuse of N95 Respirators
>
> http://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170113034232/http://www.fda.gov/d
> ownloads/EmergencyPreparedness/Counterterrorism/MedicalCountermeasures
> /MCMRegulatoryScience/UCM516998.pdf
>
>
>
> From: Lawrence M Gibbs
> Sent: Monday, March 23, 2020 11:04 AM
> To: neal**At_Symbol_Here**CHEMICAL-SAFETY.COM; DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
> Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] COVID-19 Question
>
>
>
> Neal et al,
>
>
>
> Keep in mind particulate filtering respirators were developed primarily for inert particulate matter (wood dust, silica, etc.). When used in a clinical setting, the particulate matter is no longer inert, but potentially can replicate and infect individuals upon exposure (uptake). For this reason, reuse of an N-95 is not typically recommended for use in biohazard protection, as a general rule.
>
>
>
> Having said that we are entering that stage of an emergency where scarcity of the primary protective device is occurring. A number of academic clinical centers are running into the same issues and are doing some testing of methodologies for possible reuse of n-95 particle respirators. The attached is one such report on methodology for disinfection of the masks for possible reuse. Note that gas or vapor is needed to assure complete penetration of the filtrate substrate where infectious particulates may adhere. Work is currently being done by some of the regional academic bio research facilities on this and protocols being developed demonstrating the process and testing using indicator strips of the disinfection. I suggest caution on applying considerations for non-viable particulates to the current situation for N-95s or other respiratory protective equipment.
>
>
>
> Larry
>
>
>
> Lawrence M. Gibbs, CIH, FAIHA
>
> Associate Vice Provost Emeritus
>
> Stanford University
>
> lgibbs**At_Symbol_Here**stanford.edu
>
> (c) 650-387-1131
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
> On Behalf Of NEAL LANGERMAN
> Sent: Monday, March 23, 2020 10:23 AM
> To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
> Subject: [DCHAS-L] COVID-19 Question
>
>
>
> All
>
> What do you say to a healthcare provider (assume they are in your core family) who has been told to ration N95 masks. Told to reuse them.
>
> Healthcare provider wants to know about sanitizing them; about effectiveness; about building their own mask.
>
> FYI, here is some NIH published data:
>
>
>
> Reduction to exposure by virus-like particulates. Based on article
> published by NIH
>
> Mask Type % reduction of particulates
>
> N95 99
>
> SURGICAL MASK 74
>
> HOMEMADE TEA CLOTH MASK 58
>
>
>
> Also, the Elan Musk companies delivered 50,000 N95 masks to a hospital today.
>
>
>
> nl
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------
>
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>
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> ACSafety has a new address:
>
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