ABSTRACT
One of the main preventive measures recognized by WHO and implemented to mitigate the COVID-19 epidemic impact, by controlling the transmission of coronavirus, was the use of a facemask. Since a facemask is an accessory that can be used several hours a day, through which the air we breathe passes, and which is in contact with the face skin, it must not cause discomfort to the wearer and must not contain toxic, irritating or sensitizing substances. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to identify the toxic chemical compounds present in the facemask material. Hence, the present study aims to discuss a proposal for a low-VOC emission label to be assigned to facemasks' materials in terms of respiratory and skin health. Two types of tests were proposed, one for analysis of VOC emissions, to assess the user exposure by inhalation, and the other for analysis of the VOC content, for evaluating the user exposure by dermal contact. Nine facemasks of different types: surgical (M1-M3), FFP2 (M4-M6) and reusable (M7-M9), were tested according to these methods. Comparing all the analyzed facemask types, the calculated TVOC dose, resulting from the exposure by inhalation, is very diversified, with low and high values, varying between 0 (in M7) and 2374 µg/day (in M6). However, they are consistently higher for the three analyzed self-filtering FFP2 respirators (M4-M6). Concerning dermal exposure, it is not possible to generalize, but the reusable facemasks analyzed in this work (M7-M9) consistently present higher values of skin-sensitizing compounds than the disposable facemasks (M1-M6). An attempt was made to establish criteria for assigning the low-VOC emission label. The proposed values are suggestions, requiring further studies. The authors expect that the results of this study may lead to future implementation of standards and regulations regarding the chemical compounds present in facemasks materials.
ABSTRACT
The adoption to digital media by individuals has increased multifold during the Covid 19 pandemic. The increased digital screen time may affect the sleep quality of the individuals which would lead to other health issues. India has imposed lockdown owing to the second wave of the pandemic and individuals of different demographic classes have been exposed to increased digital screen time. While several global studies have examined the health problems caused due to increased screen time, there is minimal evidence of its effect on all demographic groups in the Indian context. Hence this study aims to investigate the relation between digital screen usage and insomnia during Covid 19 pandemic among all demographic groups of individuals. Structured questionnaire was employed to capture the demographic characteristics, screen time during weekdays and weekends and Insomnia levels. The survey responses from 253 participants were analyzed using ANOVA tests. Younger adults were found to have more screen time during weekdays and weekends. The findings also revealed that there was association of the higher screen time exposure during weekdays and weekends and insomnia levels of the individuals. © 2021 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies and trading these currencies have gained huge momentum in recent years. The sophisticated features, complexities on regulatory framework, and high volatility of Cryptocurrencies would pose trading challenges to new investors and/or investors with limited knowledge. Investors generally are influenced by fund managers, financial analysts or other investors who are considered as well informed and highly knowledgeable peers. Investors mimic their behaviour to perform trading activities and such behaviour is termed as Herding. Covid 19 pandemic triggered severe uncertainties in the cryptocurrencies market and has led to wide fluctuations in prices causing severe volatility and market crashes. This paper aims to examine the herding behaviour in cryptocurrency market during the pre Covid 19 and Covid 19 pandemic period using the Cross-Sectional Standard Deviation (CSSD) approach. The findings of the paper reveal that herding was evident among all the ten crypto-currencies in normal market conditions of the entire sample period but not during market upswing or downswing. However, the herding behaviour was present in the cryptocurrencies Litecoin, Cardano and Dash during the Covid 19 pandemic period in all market conditions. © 2020, IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.