| > Why are all the masks single use? Why can't we make reusable masks that can be disinfected by UV light? Probably because, in normal cases, it's easier to manage contamination with disposable items than items that need to be disinfected. If you can't disinfect, there's no ambiguity about whether the disinfection was thorough enough. I think they may be able to be disinfected by UV light: Evaluation of Five Decontamination Methods for Filtering Facepiece Respirators (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2781738/) > UVGI, ethylene oxide (EtO), and VHP were found to be the most promising decontamination methods; however, concerns remain about the throughput capabilities for EtO and VHP. Further research is needed before any specific decontamination methods can be recommended. This is also worth noting: > It was also found that decontamination using an autoclave, 160°C dry heat, 70% isopropyl alcohol, and soap and water (20-min soak) caused significant degradation to filtration efficiency. |