Personal Protective Materials (PPMs) re COVID-19

Dear colleagues,

There are innumerable environmental and occupational hazards but the most significant risk to humans is posed by infections related to bio-aerosols, which include microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses leading to infectious diseases. These particles are very small 20–400 nm in diameter and investigating their exposure is not easy. We know for example that airborne pathogen particles of less than 5 microns can stay airborne for hours and can be transported long distances. To reduce these risks, infection control strategies need to be employed to prevent the spread of contamination to and from others through inhaling, touch, saliva, cough and sneeze, sexual contact, food, water and insects. One of the best strategies to control the risk of infections is to use personal protection equipment (PPE); surgical masks, protective gloves, face visors, gowns, and total enclosures. Consequently, the materials employed for PPE are very important and have to undergo stringent standards before being certified for use, this is what we target in this Special Issue.

Recently a coronavirus (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) became rapidly pandemic and is causing death and misery to humanity. Without a vaccine or any cure, at present, our only strategy is to contain the disease from spreading and offer protection to all. Unfortunately, most of the PPE have been designed for known pathogens in size and behaviour and are not designed for Covid-19. A good example of this is the use of face masks that is still causing confusion, with “some” questioning the high infection of medical staff and the effectiveness of these masks. Against this background, we are launching this Special Issue covering PPM, and although not exclusive to Covid-19, we would like to pull together the scientific community to help with facts, the progress of the research in new materials and processes, measurement and control, and hopefully to offer fast and effective solutions to personal protection. Your work may not necessarily be targeting Covid-19 but a paragraph discussion in relation to it in your submission will be much appreciated. The sooner we can achieve the conclusions from this Special Issue the better will be and I am pleading with you to send your work as soon as possible.

Prof. Dr. George K. Stylios
Guest Editor

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