Alaska Native Heritage Center

ABSTRACT In the spring of 2020, the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) designed and built a sanitizing treatment system to address shortages of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). The design criteria included sanitizing large numbers of FFRs, repeatedly achieving FFR fit test requirements, and deactivating enveloped respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2. The outcome was the Mobile Sanitizing Trailer (MST), a 20 by 8-foot modified trailer designed to process up to 1,000 FFRs during a standard heat cycle. This paper reports on the MST’s ability to: (1) sustain a target temperature, (2) produce tolerable conditions for FFRs as measured by fit factor and (3) successfully deactivate an infectious model virus. We found that the MST reliably and uniformly produced 75 degrees Celsius in the treatment chamber for the prescribed periods. Quantitative analysis showed that the FFRs achieved acceptable post-treatment fit factor even after 18, 60-minute heat cycles. Finally, the treated FFR materials had at least a log 3.0 reduction in viral RNA and no viable virus after 30, 60 or 90 minutes of heat treatment. As a sanitizing treatment during supply shortages, we found the MST a viable option for deactivation of virus and extending the usable life of FFRs.

ABSTRACTAlaska Native children experience high rates of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and lung conditions, which are associated with substandard indoor air quality (IAQ). We conducted an intervention of home remediation and education to assess the impact on IAQ, respiratory symptoms and LRTI visits. We enrolled households of children 1–12 years of age with lung conditions. Home remediation included improving ventilation and replacing leaky woodstoves. We provided education about IAQ and respiratory health. We monitored indoor airborne particles (PM2.5), CO2, relative humidity and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and interviewed caregivers about children’s symptoms before, and for 1 year after intervention. We evaluated the association between children’s respiratory visits, symptoms and IAQ indicators using multiple logistic regression. A total of 60 of 63 homes completed the study. VOCs decreased (coefficient = −0.20; p < 0.001); however, PM2.5 (coeff. = −0.010; p = 0.89) did not decrease. Burning wood for heat, VOCs and PM2.5 were associated with respiratory symptoms. After remediation, parents reported decreases in runny nose, cough between colds, wet cough, wheezing with colds, wheezing between colds and school absences. Children had an age-adjusted decrease in LRTI visits (coefficient = −0.33; p = 0.028). Home remediation and education reduced respiratory symptoms, LRTI visits and school absenteeism in children with lung conditions.