COVID-19: Homemade masks release fibres into air, important to wash them, say scientists


Team Udayavani, Sep 27, 2020, 11:50 AM IST

Los Angeles: While surgical and N95 masks cut down the amount of aerosolized particles emitted during breathing, talking and coughing, scientists say in the case of homemade cloth face coverings, the fabric which traps the droplets may release a large amount of fibres into the air, underscoring the importance of washing them.

The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, noted that the use of masks and other face coverings has emerged as an important tool to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

But while evidence shows that face coverings generally reduce the spread of airborne particles containing the virus, the scientists, including those from the University of California Davis (UC Davis) in the US, noted that there is limited information on how well they compare with each other.

They set up experiments to measure the flow of particles from volunteers wearing masks while they performed “expiratory activities” including breathing, talking, coughing and moving their jaw as if chewing gum.

According to the scientists, these particles are small enough to float through the air over a considerable distance, but large enough to carry viruses such as the novel coronavirus which causes COVID-19.

They also found that a fraction of people are “superemitters” who give off many more particles than average.

In the study, 10 volunteers sat in front of a funnel in a laminar flow cabinet which drew air from in front of their faces into a device that measured the size and number of particles they exhaled.

One of the volunteers in the study was a superemitter who consistently produced nearly 100 times as many particles as the others when coughing, the scientists said.

The volunteers wore either no mask, a medical-grade surgical mask, two types of N95 mask (vented or not), a homemade paper mask or homemade one- or two-layer cloth mask made from a cotton T-shirt.

The study found that talking gave off about 10 times more particles than simple breathing without wearing a mask, and forced coughing produced a variable amount of particles.

In all the test scenarios, surgical and N95 masks blocked as much as 90 percent of particles, compared to not wearing a mask, the researchers said.

Face coverings also reduced airborne particles from the superemitter, the study noted.

However, the researchers said, homemade cotton masks actually produced more particles than not wearing a mask.

According to the scientists, these appeared to be tiny fibres released from the fabric.

Since the cotton masks produced particles themselves, they said it’s difficult to tell if they also blocked exhaled particles, but added that they seemed to at least reduce the number of larger particles.

While masks are effective in reducing the spread of airborne particles, the scientists said it is also important to regularly wash cloth masks.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Rohit Bal: The Valley boy who strode to great heights in fashion

Jaishankar to visit Australia, Singapore from Nov 3-8

Kadaba: Scooter rider’s death in tree fall – Public protests, demands removal of hazardous trees

Bantwal: Old video of elderly woman bursting firecrackers in hand goes viral

3rd Test: India strike early after taking slender lead against New Zealand at tea on day 2

M’luru: Rajasthan Duo busted in Amazon order scam; goods worth Rs. 11.45 Lakh seized

BJP to hold statewide protest against alleged land seizure by Waqf board

Related Articles More

Attention problems could be ‘middleman’ between genetic risk for, experiencing psychosis: Study

Meeting WHO’s sodium recommendations could avert deaths from heart, kidney disease: Study

Meeting WHO’s sodium recommendations could avert deaths from heart, kidney disease: Study

Study finds loss of smell linked with inflammation in 140 conditions, could be early sign of disease

Manipal Centre for Biotherapeutics Research hosts “Cell Therapy Conclave” at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal

MUST WATCH

Gho Pooja in Deepavali Festival

Melukote Deepavali

Ganapathi Co-operative Society Ltd

Udayavani Chinnara Banna 2024

Annapoorna Aahar | Food Places In Mysore


Latest Additions

Kejriwal promises to waive inflated water, electricity bills if AAP returns to power in Delhi

Rohit Bal: The Valley boy who strode to great heights in fashion

Jaishankar to visit Australia, Singapore from Nov 3-8

Kadaba: Scooter rider’s death in tree fall – Public protests, demands removal of hazardous trees

Bantwal: Old video of elderly woman bursting firecrackers in hand goes viral

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.