Effectiveness Of Different Types Of Mask In Aerosol Dispersion In Sars-Cov-2 Infection
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Ozlem Dogan; Tolga Ziya Sander; Gokhan Tanisali; Ahmet Sozak; Mehmet Gönen; Hasan DeMirci; Fusun Can; Çağdaş Dağ; Onder Ergonul; Abdul Samet Bulut
- Source
- International Journal of Infectious Diseases
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol 109, Iss, Pp 310-314 (2021)
- Subject
- 0301 basic medicine
Microbiology (medical)
Materials science
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
030106 microbiology
Curved mirror
Infectious and parasitic diseases
RC109-216
Aerosol dispersion
Schlieren imaging
Article
Radius of curvature (optics)
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Optics
Schlieren
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Mask types
Wavefront
Aerosols
business.industry
Masks
General Medicine
Surgical mask
Infectious Diseases
Cough
Schlieren Imaging
business
- Language
Objective: to compare the effectiveness of different mask types in limiting the dispersal of coughed air. Method: the Schlieren method with a single curved mirror was used in this study. Coughed air has a slightly higher temperature than ambient air, which generates a refractive index gradient. A curved mirror with a radius of curvature of 10 m and a diameter of 60 cm was used. The spread of the cough wavefront was investigated among five subjects wearing: (1) no mask; (2) a single surgical mask; (3) a double surgical mask; (4) a cloth mask; (5) a valveless N95 mask; and (6) a valved N95 mask. Results: all mask types reduced the size of the contaminated region significantly. The percentage reduction in the cross-sectional area of the contaminated region for the same mask types on different subjects revealed by normalized data suggests that the fit of a mask plays an important role. Conclusions: no significant difference in the spread of coughed air was found between the use of a single surgical mask or a double surgical mask. Cloth masks may be effective, depending on the quality of the cloth. Valved N95 masks exclusively protect the user. The fit of a mask is an important factor to minimize the contaminated region.
2232 International Fellowship for Outstanding Researchers Program; Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK)