4. Conclusions
For the environmental protection during a global pandemic under the supply shortage, the reusability of disposable respirators was inevitable. This study evaluated the effects of varied disinfection treatments of disposable respirators on the filtration performance, morphological integrity, and bactericidal effectiveness, adopting eight different disinfection methods. It was confirmed that disinfection methods including laundering and chemical treatments effectively reduced the risk of bacterial infection via inactivating or removing adhered bacteria; however, they significantly deteriorated the filtration performance, dissipating the electrostatic force of the fibers. The oven-dry and UV irradiation maintained the performance, but showed incomplete sterilization in a harsh microbial environment. The results of this study will ultimately contribute to the advancement of environmental health and safety by providing a scientific background on the effect of disinfection treatment methods. Further investigation simulating the actual pandemic environment is recommended to identify the effective methods in the varied infectious conditions. Additionally, a potential risk of secondary infection by the released active bacteria back to the environment needs to be further investigated, to suggest the most relevant disinfection method for public health and environment. The scope of this study remains in bacteria disinfection. Further study with virus is recommended.