tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Future Microbiol
. 2020 Dec 22.
doi: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0292. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19: mask efficacy is dependent on both fabric and fit
Steven Darby[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Krishnakumar Chulliyallipalil[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Milosz Przyjalgowski[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Paddy McGowan[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Simon Jeffers[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Alan Giltinan[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Liam Lewis[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Niall Smith[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Roy D Sleator[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Aim: Face masks are an important addition to our arsenal in the fight against COVID-19. The aim of this study is to present a novel method of measuring mask performance which can simultaneously assess both fabric penetration and leakage due to poor fit. Materials & methods: A synthetic aerosol is introduced into the lung of a medical dummy. A conical laser sheet surrounds the face of the dummy where it illuminates the aerosol emitted during a simulated breath. The system is demonstrated with five mask types. Conclusions: The curved laser sheet highlights both penetration through the mask fabric and leakage around the edges of the mask. A large variation in both material penetration and leakage was observed.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; aerosols; coronaviruses; droplets; face coverings; masks.
. 2020 Dec 22.
doi: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0292. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19: mask efficacy is dependent on both fabric and fit
Steven Darby[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Krishnakumar Chulliyallipalil[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Milosz Przyjalgowski[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Paddy McGowan[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Simon Jeffers[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Alan Giltinan[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Liam Lewis[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Niall Smith[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Roy D Sleator[SUP] 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33350330
- DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0292
Abstract
Aim: Face masks are an important addition to our arsenal in the fight against COVID-19. The aim of this study is to present a novel method of measuring mask performance which can simultaneously assess both fabric penetration and leakage due to poor fit. Materials & methods: A synthetic aerosol is introduced into the lung of a medical dummy. A conical laser sheet surrounds the face of the dummy where it illuminates the aerosol emitted during a simulated breath. The system is demonstrated with five mask types. Conclusions: The curved laser sheet highlights both penetration through the mask fabric and leakage around the edges of the mask. A large variation in both material penetration and leakage was observed.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; aerosols; coronaviruses; droplets; face coverings; masks.