Cloth Masks Research Articles

Investigating the Effect of Polymacrocycles on the Specific Absorption of the COVID-19 Virus in Surgical, Three-layer, and Fabric Masks

Investigating the Effect of Polymacrocycles on the Specific Absorption of the COVID-19 Virus in Surgical, Three-layer, and Fabric Masks

Effect of distributing locally produced cloth facemasks on COVID-19-like illness and all-cause mortality-a cluster-randomised controlled trial in urban Guinea-Bissau.

Facemasks have been employed to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2. The community effect of providing cloth facemasks on COVID-19 morbidity and mortality is unknown. In a cluster randomised trial in urban Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, clusters (geographical areas with an average of 19 houses), were randomised to an intervention or control arm using computer-generated random numbers. Between 20 July 2020 and 22 January 2021, trial participants (aged 10+ years) living in intervention clusters (n = 90) received two 2-layer cloth facemasks, while facemasks were only distributed later in control clusters (n = 91). All participants received information on COVID-19 prevention. Trial participants were followed through a telephone interview for COVID-19-like illness (3+ symptoms), care seeking, and mortality for 4 months. End-of-study home visits ensured full mortality information and distribution of facemasks to the control group. Individual level information on outcomes by trial arm was compared in logistic regression models with generalised estimating equation-based correction for cluster. Facemasks use was mandated. Facemask use in public areas was assessed by direct observation. We enrolled 39,574 trial participants among whom 95% reported exposure to groups of >20 persons and 99% reported facemasks use, with no difference between trial arms. Observed use was substantially lower (~40%) with a 3%, 95%CI: 0-6% absolute difference between control and intervention clusters. Half of those wearing a facemask wore it correctly. Few participants (532, 1.6%) reported COVID-19-like illness; proportions did not differ by trial arm: Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.57-1.15. 177 (0.6%) participants reported consultations and COVID-19-like illness (OR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.56-1.24); 89 participants (0.2%) died (OR = 1.34, 95%CI: 0.89-2.02). Hence, though trial participants were exposed to many people, facemasks were mostly not worn or not worn correctly. Providing facemasks and messages about correct use did not substantially increase their use and had limited impact on morbidity and mortality. Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04471766.

Development of Breathable, Environmentally and Human-Friendly Cloth Mask That Meets Thermal Comfort Conditions and A Continuous Machine That Enables Industrial Production of This Mask

Ever-changing viruses that have threatened human health from past to present have greatly changed people's lifestyles. The most important precaution in infectious diseases is hygiene. Although hygiene is important in epidemics, the use of masks is the most effective method of protection in respiratory diseases. Since epidemic and infectious diseases remain stable in the incubation phase in people who do not have chronic diseases and have a strong immune system, these people without symptoms of the disease can be carriers. In addition, masks are used as protective equipment to prevent occupational diseases that may occur in sectors such as textiles. For this reason, within the scope of the study, it is suitable for multi-use with the use of sustainable class A natural raw materials, which prevents the formation of bacteria in all social areas even if there are no symptoms of disease, provides comfort with its coolness and soft structure, provides thermal comfort conditions for long-term use with its antistatic feature. It is aimed to develop an environmentally friendly cloth mask and a continuous system that performs serial pleating and ironing processes that will accelerate its industrial production.

Optical Microscopic Methods for Testing Face Mask Efficacy for COVID-19

COVID-19 has spread worldwide and it is leaving everyone wondering how to protect themselves or help those who are affected. Furthermore, the increased number of infectious diseases has become a significant health concern over recent decades. The respiratory droplets or airborne route, one of the transmission methods, impacts social relationships most significantly and can be avoided by using a face mask. Face masks are available in a variety of degrees of protection. Even in the face of the ongoing pandemic, individuals made their masks from household items due to the lack of face masks worldwide. In developing countries, surgical masks (SMs) and cloth masks (CMs) made of various cloth materials are very common. These types of masks are typically used for months after being repeatedly washed and dried. However, there is no indication of how washing, drying, or stretching practices affect the quality of CMs and SMs. Various efforts have been devoted to making effective face masks by using antimicrobial activity and super-hydrophobicity. This review article aims to discuss the mask efficiency of commercial SMs and homemade CMs from the public health and technical perspective. Recent advancements in mask engineering, disinfection, and material science have also been discussed. Optical microscopic methods were employed to assess the efficiency of different face masks and determine the quality of masks after washing, drying, and stretching. The filtration efficiency of CMs ranges from 63% to 84%. However, the SM had the highest filtering effectiveness and efficiency of 94%.

The Effect of Carbon on Chitosan-ZnO Composites as Fabric Mask Coating Materials

Increasing the effectiveness of cloth masks can reduce the use of disposable medical masks which creates a new waste problem. In this research, the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles was carried out using the precipitation method through the reaction between zinc nitrate and phosphoric acid as one of the ingredients in the chitosan-ZnO/C composite mixture. The carbon source is obtained from activated coconut shell carbon using sodium hydroxide. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) testing was carried out to determine the phase content of the synthesized carbon powder. XRD testing was also carried out on synthesized ZnO particles to determine the occurrence of phase transformations and to determine the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the material. Fourier Transform Infrared testing was also carried out to observe functional group bonds formed in carbon compounds. Composite materials that have been successfully made will then be tested for hydrophobicity by calculating the contact angle. The results of this study indicate that the synthetic base material has been successfully carried out and the composite has been successfully made. The highest water contact angle is 106o was found in the chitosan/ZnO composite sample with a ratio of 2:1 and a mass variation of 0.05 gr active carbon.

GLOBAL RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW OF SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME SARS COV-2 INFECTIONS IN NONDOMESTIC FELIDS: MARCH 2020-FEBRUARY 2021.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in nondomestic felids have been documented in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Between March 2020 and February 2021, at nine institutions across three continents, infection was confirmed in 16 tigers (Panthera tigris), 14 lions (Panthera leo), three snow leopards (Panthera uncia), one cougar (Puma concolor), and one Amur leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) ranging from 2 to 21 yr old (average, 10 yr). Infection was suspected in an additional 12 tigers, 4 lions, and 9 cougars. Clinical signs (in order of most to least common) included coughing, ocular and/or nasal discharge, wheezing, sneezing, decreased appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, and vomiting. Most felids recovered uneventfully, but one geriatric tiger with comorbidities developed severe dyspnea and neurologic signs necessitating euthanasia. Clinical signs lasted 1-19 d (average, 8 d); one tiger was asymptomatic. Infection was confirmed by various methods, including antigen tests and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of nasal or oral swabs, tracheal wash, and feces, or virus isolation from feces or tracheal wash. Infection status and resolution were determined by testing nasal swabs from awake animals, fecal PCR, and observation of clinical signs. Shedding of fecal viral RNA was significantly longer than duration of clinical signs. Postinfection seropositivity was confirmed by four institutions including 11 felids (5 lions, 6 tigers). In most instances, asymptomatic or presymptomatic keepers were the presumed or confirmed source of infection, although in some instances the infection source remains uncertain. Almost all infections occurred despite using cloth facemasks and disposable gloves when in proximity to the felids and during food preparation. Although transmission may have occurred during momentary lapses in personal protective equipment compliance, it seems probable that cloth masks are insufficient at preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to nondomestic felids. Surgical or higher grade masks may be warranted when working with nondomestic felids.

Number of Germs on the Inner Layer of a Cloth Mask

The effectiveness of cloth masks is determined, among other things, by the filtration ability of the type of material used and the number of layers. There is still little information about the effectiveness of using cloth masks in terms of the number of germs and the length of time they are used. The study aimed to determine the number of germs present in 3-kind cloth of masks made from different types of materials and different durations of use.

Real-World Efficacy of N95, Surgical, and Cloth Masks in Mitigating SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Infections: A Comprehensive Comparative Study

The effectiveness of different types of masks in mitigating respiratory infections, particularly those caused by SARS-CoV-2, has been a topic of significant interest during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of the real-world efficacy of N95, surgical, and cloth masks in reducing the transmission of respiratory infections. Using a large sample size and rigorous data collection methods, we evaluated the protective capabilities of each mask type by assessing the number of infections among individuals wearing these masks in various settings. Our findings reveal that N95 masks exhibited the highest level of protection, followed by surgical masks and cloth masks. However, even cloth masks provided a significant level of protection compared to no mask usage. The results of our study underscore the importance of widespread mask usage as a critical public health measure to control the spread of respiratory infections. These findings have significant implications for public health policies and highlight the need for continued adherence to mask-wearing practices.

Effect of Wearing Face Masks During Exercise on Pulmonary Function in Healthy Non-Athlete Young Men During the Covid-19 Epidemic: Cloth Masks vs. Medical Masks

Background and Objectives One of the safety methods to prevent the spread of Covid-19 is to wear face masks. The aim of the current research was to compare the effect of wearing cloth vs. medical masks during exercise on lung function in healthy non-athlete young men during the Covid-19 epidemic. Subjects and Methods In this quasi-experimental research, 40 healthy men (mean age: 29.40 years, mean height: 175.30 cm, mean weight: 73.37 kg, and mean body mass index: 23.56 kg/m2) were selected by purposive sampling method and randomly allocated into 4 groups: 1- combined exercises + medical mask, 2-combined exercises + cloth mask, 3- combined exercises, and 4- control. Pulmonary function was measured using a spirometer. The training intervention included three sessions of combined training (aerobic-resistance) continued for eight weeks. Statistical analysis involved paired sample t-tests, analysis of covariance, and Benferroni's post hoc test. Results A significant increase in tidal volume (VT), vital capacity (VC), total lung capacity (TLC), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) was observed after exercise training (P <0.01). However, using medical or cloth masks led to a significant decrease in VT, VC, TLC and PEF indices compared to the activity group not wearing masks (P <0.01). Other results also showed that there is no significant difference between cloth and medical masks in terms of the pulmonary indices of the healthy young men studied (P>0.05). Conclusion The results of this research show that wearing masks during exercise reduces lung function by increasing airway resistance.

Quality Analysis of Cloth Masks: Study of Material Types on Physical, Chemical, and Antibacterial Properties

Utilizing personal protective equipment (PPE) is the important requirement for controlling and preventing of Covid-19 virus spread. The awareness of mask-wearing among the citizen and the development of fabric mask testing methods based on Indonesian Standards through the implementation of SNI 7648: Textile – Test of the air permeability on fabric; SNI 20743: The evaluating method of antibacterial properties using biological aerosol S. aureus and E. coli; SNI/ISO 4920: The surface wetness testing. This study shows that we need to understand and choose fabric masks correctlybesides being standardized. Fabric types influence the performance of the mask while protecting the user

Antibacterial Nanofibrous Mat of Pullulan/Cinnamaldehyde-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes as a Potential Cloth Mask Layer with Long-Term Storage Stability and Facile Disposal Property

Antibacterial Nanofibrous Mat of Pullulan/Cinnamaldehyde-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes as a Potential Cloth Mask Layer with Long-Term Storage Stability and Facile Disposal Property

Analysis of the Optimal Use of Fabric Masks and Disposable Medical Masks During the COVID-19

Medical waste is one of the biggest concerns today due to the need to prevent COVID-19. How to properly handle the large amount of discarded disposable medical masks generated during and after the epidemic, fully understand the need for recycling and disposal of discarded masks, and accelerate the development of new technologies for value-added use have become important issues arising from the new crown epidemic and other respiratory infectious diseases, as well as an urgent requirement to protect the ecological environment. This paper outlines the materials of disposable medical masks and cloth masks, and analyses their impact on society and the environment from the perspective of their own characteristics, so as to give advice on how to choose masks. This paper compares cloth masks and traditional disposable medical masks, discussing the similarities and differences between them in terms of epidemic prevention, the environment, the economics of the product, the psychological burden on the public and the production of the company. The recommendations are based on the effectiveness of the two types of masks and their different handling methods. Finally, the challenges associated with the current use of masks are outlined and a personal view on the replacement of disposable medical masks with cloth masks is given. In the future, the government should expand the use of cloth masks by raising public awareness of the use of sustainable masks, in order to save resources and protect the environment. The aim of this paper is to reduce the environmental and socio-economic impact of masks by discussing the effectiveness, social and economic impact of the two types of masks, so that more people will be guided to use cloth masks.

Research on Defect Detection Method of Nonwoven Fabric Mask Based on Machine Vision

During the production, transportation and storage of nonwoven fabric mask, there are many damages caused by human or nonhuman factors. Therefore, checking the defects of nonwoven fabric mask in a timely manner to ensure the reliability and integrity, which plays a positive role in the safe use of nonwoven fabric mask. At present, the wide application of machine vision technology provides a technical mean for the defect detection of nonwoven fabric mask. On the basis of the pre-treatment of the defect images, it can effectively simulate the contour fluctuation grading and gray value change of the defect images, which is helpful to realize the segmentation, classification and recognition of nonwoven fabric mask defect features. First, in order to accurately obtain the image information of the nonwoven fabric mask, the binocular vision calibration method of the defect detection system is discussed. On this basis, the defect detection mechanism of the nonwoven fabric mask is analyzed, and the model of image processing based on spatial domain and Hough transform is established, respectively. The original image of the nonwoven fabric mask is processed by region processing and edge extraction. Second, the defect detection algorithm of nonwoven fabric mask is established and the detection process is designed. Finally, a fast defect detection system for nonwoven fabric mask is designed, and the effectiveness of the detection method for nonwoven fabric mask is analyzed with an example. The results show that this detection method has positive engineering significance for improving the detection efficiency of defects in nonwoven fabric mask.

Reusable cloth masks in operating theatre.

The significant rise and release into the atmosphere of carbon emissions related to modern human activities are the predominant causes of global warming1. Global net-zero carbon dioxide emissions must be reached before 2050 to ensure that global warming is limited to 1.5°C by 21002. Carbon emissions from healthcare account for approximately 5.5 per cent of the total carbon footprint3. Surgery substantially contributes to this, with a single surgical procedure being estimated to be responsible for the production of 6–814 kg carbon dioxide equivalents4. Notably, disposable surgical masks (SMs) in the operating room (OR) contribute to waste production that could be reduced by switching to reusable cloth masks (CMs). The environmental benefit of reusable CMs over SMs was recently studied in depth, including manufacture, transport, washing, and waste processing5. The conclusion was that such transition would reduce the carbon footprint by 50–90 per cent, the variation depending mostly on the distance the masks need to travel between manufacturer and user. However, OR masks must protect both patients and surgeons. As the filtration capacity of a 100 per cent cotton three-layer accredited CM is similar to that of a standard SM (98.9 versus 98.5 per cent for nanoparticles with a diameter of 100 nm respectively), the major residual concern relates to breath leakage around the mask6.

Effects of wearing different face masks on cardiopulmonary performance at rest and exercise in a partially double-blinded randomized cross-over study

The use of face masks became mandatory during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Wearing masks may lead to complaints about laboured breathing and stress. The influence of different masks on cardiopulmonary performance was investigated in a partially double-blinded randomized cross-over design. Forty subjects (19–65 years) underwent body plethysmography, ergometry, cardiopulmonary exercise test and a 4-h wearing period without a mask, with a surgical mask (SM), a community mask (CM), and an FFP2 respirator (FFP2). Cardiopulmonary, physical, capnometric, and blood gas related parameters were recorded. Breathing resistance and work of breathing were significantly increased while wearing a mask. During exercise the increase in minute ventilation tended to be lower and breathing time was significantly longer with mask than without mask. Wearing a mask caused significant minimal decreases in blood oxygen pressure, oxygen saturation, an initial increase in blood and inspiratory carbon dioxide pressure, and a higher perceived physical exertion and temperature and humidity behind the mask under very heavy exercise. All effects were stronger when wearing an FFP2. Wearing face masks at rest and under exercise, changed breathing patterns in the sense of physiological compensation without representing a health risk. Wearing a mask for 4-h during light work had no effect on blood gases.

Effect of facemask, handwashing, and social distancing on contracting COVID-19 infection in Saudi Arabia: a case-control study

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of self-preventive measures (handwashing, mask-wearing, and social distancing) on preventing the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection in Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: An unmatched case-control study (1 to 1 ratio) was conducted with a sample size of 1102. The researchers used descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses to determine the effect of handwashing, mask-wearing behavior, and social gatherings on COVID-19 infection. Results: The results evinced that participants who believed that the facemask was important for preventing COVID-19 infection were more likely protected against the disease (OR=0.450; 0.320—0.631). Using a facemask during social visits and shopping indicated a lower protective effect than using it at work (OR=1.299; 1.011—1.668). The type of mask (disposable versus cloth; OR=0.929; 0.590—0.1.462) and its wearing period (1< dayversus ≤1 day; OR=0.907; 0.662—1.243) showed an almost neutral statistical association with acquiring the infection. Contrarily, handwashing time for ≥20 seconds, compared to a shorter time, had a statistically significant protective association with the infection even after adjusting the odds ratio (OR=0.616; 0.4763—0.796). It was also noted that gathering with relatives and friends ≥4 times per month exhibited a higher and statistically significant association with the infection compared to the lower times (OR=1.347; 1.046—1.734). Furthermore, people who prayed five times a day at the mosque showed a higher risk of infection than those who prayed less than five times (adjusted OR=1.740; 1.152—2.626). Conclusions: This study suggested that handwashing for more than 20 seconds is the most important preventive factor among all considerations investigated. Moreover, it was noticed that disposable and cloth facemasks may have the same effect regardless of the wearing period or sterilization status. Furthermore, gathering with relatives and friends, as well as praying five times a day at the mosque, were ascertained as significant social factors in acquiring the COVID-19 infection.

Performing moderate to severe activity is safe and tolerable for healthy youth while wearing a cloth facemask.

To investigate if a cloth facemask could affect physiological and perceptual responses to exercise at distinct exercise intensities in healthy young individuals. Nine participants (sex, female/male: 6/3; age: 13±1 years; VO2peak: 44.5±5.5 mL/kg/min) underwent a progressive square-wave test at four intensities: (1) 80% of ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT), (2) VAT, and (3) 40% between VAT and [Formula: see text] wearing a triple-layered cloth facemask or not. Participants then completed a final stage to exhaustion at a running speed equivalent to the maximum achieved during the cardio-respiratory exercise test (Peak). Physiological, metabolic, and perceptual measures were measured. Mask did not affect spirometry (forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume; all p≥0.27), respiratory (inspiratory capacity, end-expiratory volume [EELV] to functional vital capacity ratio, EELV, respiratory frequency [Rf], tidal volume [VT], Rf/VT, end-tidal carbo dioxide pressure, ventilatory equivalent to carbon dioxide ratio; all p≥0.196), hemodynamic (heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure; all p>0.41), ratings of perceived exertion (p = 0.04) or metabolic measures (lactate; p = 0.78) at rest or at any exercise intensity. This study shows that performing moderate to severe activity is safe and tolerable for healthy youth while wearing a cloth facemask. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04887714.

Effectiveness of Inexpensive Cloth Facemasks and Their Amendments to Reduce Ambient Particulate Exposures: A Case of Kathmandu, Nepal.

Inexpensive cloth masks are widely used to reduce particulate exposures, but their use became ubiquitous after the outbreak of COVID-19. A custom experimental setup (semiactive at 5.1 m/s airflow rate) was fabricated to examine the efficiency of different types of commercial facemasks collected randomly from street vendors. The sample (N = 27) including (n = 16) cloth masks (CMs), (n = 7) surgical masks (SMs), and (n = 4) N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs), of which SMs and N95 FFRs taken as a standard for efficiency comparison were all tested against ambient aerosols (PM2.5 and PM10 μg/m3). The prototype cloth masks (PTCMs) (N = 5) design was tailored, and their performance was assessed and compared with that of standard commercial masks. The filtering efficiency tested against ambient coarse particulates (PM10) ranged from (5% to 34%) for CMs with an average of 16%, (37% to 46%) for SMs with an average of 42%, (59% to 72%) for PTCMs with an average of 65%, and (70% to 75%) for N95 FFRs with an average of 71%, whereas against fine particulates (PM2.5), efficacy ranged from (4% to 29%) for CMs with an average of 13%, (34% to 44%) for SMs with an average of 39%, (53% to 68%) for PTCMs with an average of 60%, and (68% to 73%) for N95 FFRs with an average of 70%, respectively. The efficiency followed the order N95 FFRs > PTCMs > SMs > CMs showing poor exposure reduction potential in CMs and high exposure reduction potential in N95 FFRs and PTCMs. Amendment in existing CMs using eco-friendly cotton fabric with better facial adherence can protect human health from exposure to fine particulates <2.5 μm and can reduce the risk of micro-plastic pollution caused by polypropylene (PP) facemasks.

Comparative Environmental Impact Evaluation of Disposable Surgical and Reusable Cloth Face Masks

Malaysia, wearing face mask during Covid-19 outbreak were mandatory. This action has caused significant surge in face mask production which deem to affect environment and human health. This paper evaluates and compared the environmental impacts, in a life cycle assessments perspective between disposable surgical face mask and reusable cloth face mask using cradle-to-grave approaches according to ISO 14040. The environmental impacts were assessed based on nine midpoint impact categories which are ozone depletion, greenhouse gases, acidification, eutrophication, smog formation, human health cancer and non-cancer, human health particulates and ecotoxicity. The functional unit for both types of face masks is a person wearing face mask as protection every day for one year (365 masks for disposable surgical face mask and 3 masks for reusable cloth face mask). The LCA tool used was OpenLCA software with Ecoinvent consequential 3.7.1 version database and TRACI 2.1 for impact method assessment. The study showed that reusable cloth face mask had the lowest impact compared to disposable surgical face mask across the assessed midpoint impact categories. This study suggested incineration as the best disposal method for the End-of-Life (EoL) of both face masks. Sensitive analysis also performed by manipulating the amount of face mask used per individual and it was found that the amount of mask used had significant effects to the environmental performance.

Effect of Cloth Face Mask Wearing on Exhaustive Incremental Running Among Young Men

Effect of Cloth Face Mask Wearing on Exhaustive Incremental Running Among Young Men