An emblematic object of the Covid-19 health crisis, the protective mask has been the subject of an explosion in demand. Some companies have therefore naturally taken advantage of this enthusiasm. This is the case of Battelle, a private research organization that successfully sold its technology to the United States government.
The appearance of Covid-19 has revealed the difficulties in coping with a large-scale health crisis that many States, including France, have encountered. However, the protective mask is a precious object in these dark times. In our country, the shortage of masks is more akin to a scandal linked to the strategic state stock. But some states that have coped with the pandemic brilliantly, such as Taiwan, have been able to help and provide masks to countries in difficulty. In the midst of all this, we find companies that have bet to make a profit important by offering their services.
In an article published by the Wall Street Journal on June 1, 2020, it is about the American company Battelle. This research organization sold its technology to its government , an initiative strongly supported by President Donald Trump.
The process developed by the company Battelle is quite simple. This involves placing used masks in suitable containers. Then it is a question of vaporizing them with hydrogen peroxide before drying for several hours. According to Battelle, it is possible to reproduce the process about twenty times for each mask.
So far, Battelle has decontaminated approximately 700,000 FFP2 masks (N95) for 110 dollars each! In other words, this company has amassed tens of thousands of dollars in profits. Above all, the recent sale of the technology to the government allowed Battelle to hit the jackpot. Donald Trump has indeed planned a budget of 400 million dollars for the operation of some fifty decontamination units. But the bill could reach 600 million dollars.
If the Trump administration believes in this technology, the reuse of disinfected FFP2 masks is not unanimous . The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has come out in favor of the practice, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) opposes it unless there is a complete shortage. In addition, the mask manufacturer 3M indicates that Battelle's technology is not subject to any certification . The risk ? Make masks completely ineffective.
Finally, hospital managers are quite satisfied with the arrival of masks, but healthcare staff are more reserved . Indeed, some staff have reported cases of worn filters, broken rubber bands and excretion marks.
