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Due to the obligation to cover the mouth and nose, which was introduced in our country, many people wonder how to disinfect masks so that they retain their properties. Scientists have checked how home disinfection with the help of heating affects the effectiveness of the mask.
Disinfecting the masks at home does not significantly reduce their effectiveness
A study published in the Journal of the International Society for Respiratory Protection found that disinfecting home masks by heating them does not significantly reduce their effectiveness and that some medical masks can undergo this process and still have a high protection efficiency.
According to the WHO, the coronavirus is transmitted mainly through coughing and sneezing. Saliva droplets contain viral particles that are airborne and can infect those around you. The virus can also survive on surfaces for some time, and transmission occurs when a person comes into contact with particles on the surface and then touches the face, for example.
Due to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus and the fact that many infected people are unaware of the disease, most governments recommend wearing mouth and nose guards in public places. It is an obligation in Poland.
So the question is how to disinfect the masks we use most often for cover, so as to destroy virus particles without reducing the effectiveness of the mask.
Researchers investigated ways to disinfect home masks and those for healthcare professionals. Previous research suggested that heating the masks to 70ºC was effective in killing the virus. It’s a way that practically everyone has access to – just use an oven.
See also: Obligation to cover the mouth and nose in Poland. What are the types of face masks?
Testing of disinfected face masks
To test the effectiveness of masks after disinfection by exposure to heat, the authors of the study selected different masks and placed them on the faces of mannequins designed to simulate breath collection. For the study, they used soot from a kerosene lamp, which contains particles of a similar size to the SARS-CoV-2 particles.
Scientists tested disposable surgical masks, masks with an N-95 filter and three home masks – made of a cotton dress, a cotton sweater and a polyester fabric. They measured the level of soot soot inside the mask worn by the dummy and in the air that passed through the masks.
They repeated the tests, changing the tightness of the masks and using mannequins made of various materials to best reflect the natural conditions of wearing the masks. How did the tested covers come out?
Heating the masks for disinfection does not reduce their effectiveness
The scientists made some significant conclusions. First, the N95 filter mask and the surgical mask that adhered tightly to the face of the plastic dummy can be disinfected by heating up to 10 times without losing effectiveness. The mask with an N95 filter has reached 95 percent. filtration efficiency, and the surgical mask 70%.
When the authors of the study switched to a silicone dummy and applied the masks as usual (they did not stick tightly to the face), they found that the levels of filtration were much lower – for both masks they were around 40%.
For home cotton masks used on a soft mannequin, the filtration efficiency was 55%, which is higher than that of surgical masks and with an N95 filter with a regular fit. Heating the masks to 70ºC did not affect their filtering ability.
Researchers also checked the effectiveness of the surgical masks and the N95 filter in combination with the nose clip, which makes it much easier to adjust the mask. It turned out that thanks to a good fit, the filtration efficiency increased by 98%. in the case of a mask with an N95 filter and 88 percent. in the case of a surgical mask.
The researchers admit that the study was relatively small and did not take into account the possibility of repositioning the mask on the face while breathing and moving. Nevertheless, the authors note that everything we know so far suggests that wearing virtually any mask in public is better than nothing, and that the best mask fit is a tight fit.
At Medonet Market you can order reusable protective masks made of hypoallergenic materials, available in various sizes and colors.
Have a question about the coronavirus? Send them to the following address: [email protected]. You will find a daily updated list of answers HERE: Coronavirus – frequently asked questions and answers.
Frequently asked questions about masks:
- Will face masks protect me from the coronavirus?
- How long will we have to wear face masks?
- Do you have to wear a protective mask in the woods?
- How to disinfect cotton masks to effectively protect against coronavirus?
- Can we wear helmets instead of face masks?
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