Particle Filtration Efficiency, Breathability, and Reusability of Common Masks
Abstract The Filtration efficiency (FE) and breathability were evaluated for commonly used masks (total of 350 of commercial and home-made) before and after disinfection by one of three options: washing machine (60°C, 90 minutes), boiling in water (5 minutes), or holding in hot water (decreasing tem...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2024-05-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.240021 |
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| author | Heikki Junninen Nieves Maria Flores March Marko Vana Kalju Tamme Helina Lipp Sander Mirme Siim Pikker Tareq Hussein Markku Kulmala |
| author_facet | Heikki Junninen Nieves Maria Flores March Marko Vana Kalju Tamme Helina Lipp Sander Mirme Siim Pikker Tareq Hussein Markku Kulmala |
| author_sort | Heikki Junninen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The Filtration efficiency (FE) and breathability were evaluated for commonly used masks (total of 350 of commercial and home-made) before and after disinfection by one of three options: washing machine (60°C, 90 minutes), boiling in water (5 minutes), or holding in hot water (decreasing temperature from 90°C to 80°C, 5 minutes). The overall average breathability was 97 Pa cm–2 with disposable masks had pressure difference better than community mask requirements. According to our results, the FE of 0.3 µm (FE0.3µm) > 80% for 136 masks and that for 3 µm (FE3µm) > 80% for 194 masks. In general, disposable masks had better FE (FE0.3µm = 89% and FE3µm = 96%) than multiple-usable masks (FE0.3µm = 39% and FE3µm = 66%). The commercial masks (FE0.3µm = 55% and FE3µm = 75%) had higher performance than self-made masks (FE0.3µm = 21% and FE3µm = 54%). An additional layer in a commercial mask enhanced FE0.3µm from 35% to 84% and FE3µm from 69% to 94%. The FE (likely remained more than 50%) was not affected significantly after cleaning a mask and the breathability was not changed. It is concluded here that disposable masks and respirators can be washed and used several times without losing much quality of the masks regarding the FE and breathability. The best masks for FE were N95 respirators, but they had relatively low breathability. When also counting the breathability, the equally good performance was for commercial multiple-usable masks with filtering layer and disposable masks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7addff16a52547e58664a5facf7626c0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-7addff16a52547e58664a5facf7626c02025-02-09T12:24:29ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092024-05-0124811610.4209/aaqr.240021Particle Filtration Efficiency, Breathability, and Reusability of Common MasksHeikki Junninen0Nieves Maria Flores March1Marko Vana2Kalju Tamme3Helina Lipp4Sander Mirme5Siim Pikker6Tareq Hussein7Markku Kulmala8Laboratory of Environmental Physics, Institute of Physics, University of TartuLaboratory of Environmental Physics, Institute of Physics, University of TartuLaboratory of Environmental Physics, Institute of Physics, University of TartuLaboratory of Environmental Physics, Institute of Physics, University of TartuLaboratory of Environmental Physics, Institute of Physics, University of TartuLaboratory of Environmental Physics, Institute of Physics, University of TartuLaboratory of Environmental Physics, Institute of Physics, University of TartuEnvironmental and Atmospheric Research Laboratory (EARL), School of Science, the University of JordanInstitute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), Faculty of Science, University of HelsinkiAbstract The Filtration efficiency (FE) and breathability were evaluated for commonly used masks (total of 350 of commercial and home-made) before and after disinfection by one of three options: washing machine (60°C, 90 minutes), boiling in water (5 minutes), or holding in hot water (decreasing temperature from 90°C to 80°C, 5 minutes). The overall average breathability was 97 Pa cm–2 with disposable masks had pressure difference better than community mask requirements. According to our results, the FE of 0.3 µm (FE0.3µm) > 80% for 136 masks and that for 3 µm (FE3µm) > 80% for 194 masks. In general, disposable masks had better FE (FE0.3µm = 89% and FE3µm = 96%) than multiple-usable masks (FE0.3µm = 39% and FE3µm = 66%). The commercial masks (FE0.3µm = 55% and FE3µm = 75%) had higher performance than self-made masks (FE0.3µm = 21% and FE3µm = 54%). An additional layer in a commercial mask enhanced FE0.3µm from 35% to 84% and FE3µm from 69% to 94%. The FE (likely remained more than 50%) was not affected significantly after cleaning a mask and the breathability was not changed. It is concluded here that disposable masks and respirators can be washed and used several times without losing much quality of the masks regarding the FE and breathability. The best masks for FE were N95 respirators, but they had relatively low breathability. When also counting the breathability, the equally good performance was for commercial multiple-usable masks with filtering layer and disposable masks.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.240021Fine particlesParticle filtrationBreathabilityDisinfectionMask |
| spellingShingle | Heikki Junninen Nieves Maria Flores March Marko Vana Kalju Tamme Helina Lipp Sander Mirme Siim Pikker Tareq Hussein Markku Kulmala Particle Filtration Efficiency, Breathability, and Reusability of Common Masks Aerosol and Air Quality Research Fine particles Particle filtration Breathability Disinfection Mask |
| title | Particle Filtration Efficiency, Breathability, and Reusability of Common Masks |
| title_full | Particle Filtration Efficiency, Breathability, and Reusability of Common Masks |
| title_fullStr | Particle Filtration Efficiency, Breathability, and Reusability of Common Masks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Particle Filtration Efficiency, Breathability, and Reusability of Common Masks |
| title_short | Particle Filtration Efficiency, Breathability, and Reusability of Common Masks |
| title_sort | particle filtration efficiency breathability and reusability of common masks |
| topic | Fine particles Particle filtration Breathability Disinfection Mask |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.240021 |
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