TY - JOUR
T1 - Material Suitability Testing for Nonmedical Grade Community Face Masks to Decrease Viral Transmission during a Pandemic
AU - Varallyay, Csanad
AU - Li, Ningcheng
AU - Case, Brendan
AU - Wolf, Bryan
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors thank Misti Powell, MBA, manager of occupational health at OHSU, and Andrew Christensen B.S, EMT, RMA, clinical operations supervisor OHSU, for providing testing equipment. The authors also acknowledge Krista Wolf, PharmD, for her administrative support and test material suggestions.
Publisher Copyright:
© Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2020.
PY - 2021/10/27
Y1 - 2021/10/27
N2 - Objectives: Cloth face covering has been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to decrease community viral transmission. This study aims to determine the filtration efficiency and airflow resistance of common household materials available for homemade mask production by comparing numbers of fabrics, various layers, and manipulation. Methods: Common household woven, knitted, and nonwoven fabrics were tested for filtration efficiency using a fit testing setup and airflow resistance with pressure gauge setup. Three different levels of layering (1, 2, and 4) were tested. Some fabric material was further tested after washing and drying. Filtration performance, the area under the fitted curve comparing airflow resistance and filtration efficiency, was calculated for each fabric material and compared. Results: Layering increased filtration efficiency and airflow resistance (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Polyester felt demonstrated the highest filtration performance index (P < 0.0001), higher than all tested 100% cotton materials (all P < 0.05) as well as surgical masks (P < 0.05). Washing plus drying did not alter filtration performance significantly (P > 0.05). Conclusions: A filtration performance of common household fabrics were compared. Homemade mask designers and producers will have improved data to better balance effectiveness, availability, and comfort with the goal of decreasing community viral transmission.
AB - Objectives: Cloth face covering has been recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to decrease community viral transmission. This study aims to determine the filtration efficiency and airflow resistance of common household materials available for homemade mask production by comparing numbers of fabrics, various layers, and manipulation. Methods: Common household woven, knitted, and nonwoven fabrics were tested for filtration efficiency using a fit testing setup and airflow resistance with pressure gauge setup. Three different levels of layering (1, 2, and 4) were tested. Some fabric material was further tested after washing and drying. Filtration performance, the area under the fitted curve comparing airflow resistance and filtration efficiency, was calculated for each fabric material and compared. Results: Layering increased filtration efficiency and airflow resistance (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.01, respectively). Polyester felt demonstrated the highest filtration performance index (P < 0.0001), higher than all tested 100% cotton materials (all P < 0.05) as well as surgical masks (P < 0.05). Washing plus drying did not alter filtration performance significantly (P > 0.05). Conclusions: A filtration performance of common household fabrics were compared. Homemade mask designers and producers will have improved data to better balance effectiveness, availability, and comfort with the goal of decreasing community viral transmission.
KW - communicable diseases
KW - emergency preparedness
KW - infection control
KW - occupational exposure
KW - pandemics
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U2 - 10.1017/dmp.2020.262
DO - 10.1017/dmp.2020.262
M3 - Article
C2 - 32713381
AN - SCOPUS:85094128937
SN - 1935-7893
VL - 15
SP - E26-E32
JO - Disaster medicine and public health preparedness
JF - Disaster medicine and public health preparedness
IS - 5
ER -