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INTRODUCTION: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, face masks have been among the cornerstones of COVID-19 prevention. Therefore, evaluating their preventive effects against COVID-19 is crucial. This review aimed to systematically search for the systematic review articles that explored the role of various types of face masks in preventing COVID-19. METHODS: We browsed the keywords of this study in the online databases of Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Cochrane on 10th January 2023 and retrieved all the relevant systematic review articles. The records were downloaded into an Endnote file, and the duplicates were removed. A two-step screening process consisting of title/abstract and full-text screenings was conducted to select the most relevant articles. To ensure the validity and reliability of the results, this study adhered to the PRISMA protocol. RESULTS: A total of 28 systematic reviews were included in this review. Most studies found that face masks are beneficial against viral respiratory infections, such as COVID-19. Different types of masks were evaluated in included studies. It appeared that mask efficacy depends on the material, layers, fitting on the face and user compliance. N 95 respirator had maximum efficacy, especially when used continuously. CONCLUSION: Face masks have a beneficial effect against COVID-19. Home masks are less protective than surgical masks or N95 personal breathing masks. Besides, the use of masks may elicit a false sense of security in people, which may lead to poor hand hygiene and violation of social distancing. Therefore, the necessary training should be provided to the public to increase awareness and encourage the right practice of using the mask, emphasizing the preventive effects of washing hands, social distancing, and using a face mask against COVID-19.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting the willingness-to-pay (WTP) value of cloth and disposable masks during the pandemic. Each type of mask has its advantages, and each individual has different considerations when choosing the mask they will buy and use. Primary data were obtained from survey questionnaires, with the qualified participants being income earners. Using a snowball sampling technique, a total of 1144 people were selected as participants from 14 Indonesian provinces. Data collection was carried out and questionnaires were distributed through Google Forms and a WhatsApp group, respectively, for 7 days. The results showed that the WTP value of cloth and disposable masks was significantly influenced by similar variables, including age, education, income level, number of household members, activities outside the home, and the presence of comorbidities. All the variables had similar effects on the WTP value of cloth and disposable masks. The absence of differences in the WTP value implies that the most important consideration in reducing the risk of exposure to Covid-19 was not the type of mask but the discipline of wearing a mask when performing activities outside the home. © 2023 AESS Publications. All Rights Reserved.
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Mask-wearing during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with an increased occurrence of a form of acne mechanica, popularly termed 'maskne. However, our understanding of this entity is limited. Hence we aimed to study the role of changes in the skin microbiome in mask induced acne and its response to standard acne treatment regimens. This was a prospective observational study. Adult patients having new-onset of lesions suggestive of acne within 6 weeks of regularly wearing mask or exacerbation of pre-existing acne were recruited. Disease severity was assessed using the 'Global Acne Severity Grading System (GAGS). Sample collection was done from pustules or comedones. Treatment was given according to American Academy of Dermatology Guidelines and follow up was done till 12 weeks. Data was entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v.25. Total 50 patients were recruited in the study. 56% patients were female and 44% were male. 60% patients had a history of similar lesions in the past. 56% patients used surgical mask, 34 % used N-95 mask and 18 % used cloth mask. The average duration of use for mask per day was 6.78 +/- 2.65. Cheeks were the most commonly involved site and 62% of patients had mild GAGS. The severity of acne was significantly higher in patients using N-95 mask ( p<0.05) but not associated with duration of mask use, history of mask re-use and use of moisturizers. 70% cases did not require systemic treatment. KOH was negative in all cases. Gram stain showed gram positive cocci and rods in 22% and 14 % cases respectively. Aerobic culture showed Staphylococcus aureus growth in 30% cases and Anaerobic culture showed Cutibacterum acnes growth in 20% cases. In our study we found that maskne presented with a milder variant of acne which in majority of cases responded well to topical treatment standardized for acne vulgaris and had a microbiome profile similar to acne vulgaris.Copyright © 2023
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The demand for face masks is increasing exponentially due to the coronavirus pandemic and the particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere. As a result, an enormous number of disposable mask filters have been produced and discarded, contributing to plastic waste. Underprivileged people who cannot afford to purchase commercial face masks have started making fabric masks with waste clothing;however, this material does not effectively filter viruses or PM. Therefore, in this study, a chitosan coating was applied to clothing fabrics to increase their effectiveness as face masks. The improvement in the PM removal efficiency owing to the chitosan polymer was observed for stocking, innerwear, and bamboo materials, but not for cotton. Furthermore, chitosan prepared in the form of a nanowhisker (CsW) achieved a PM 2.5 removal efficiency of 96% in a five-layer cotton fabric. In addition, a commercial biodegradable poly(lactic acid) filter was coated with CsW, which increased the PM 2.5 removal efficiency from 67% to 83%. Additionally, microbial growth was significantly suppressed in the chitosan-coated fabrics, and the degree to which it was suppressed depended on the coating concentration. The study will aid in the utilization of face mask filters that are more sustainable, efficient, and widely accessible. © 2023 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
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We aim to discuss the prevalence of adverse skin reactions to facemask among the community admitted to our hospital during the SARS outbreak. Between 2019 and 2020, 97 patients who developed an allergic reaction on their face in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic were discussed. The average age of the patients was 37.7 (range 18-78), while the average age was 35.2 for males and 40.04 for females. While 13 (27.7%) of the male patients were using cloth masks, 34 (72.3%) of them were using surgical masks, 11 (22%) of the female patients were using cloth masks and 39 (78%) of them were using surgical masks.The combination of the female gender, additional disease, and surgical mask contributes to the development of allergic reactions on the face.Copyright © 2022 International Journal of Academic Medicine and Pharmacy. All rights reserved.
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Introduction: COVID-appropriate behavior refers to the development of those habits that may serve to limit the disease's spread and, thus, reduce the number of individuals affected. Vaccinated individuals may be less willing to comply with COVID-appropriate conduct due to their perception of a diminished health risk. Consequently, the present study was conducted to assess public's attitude regarding COVID preventive measures following vaccination.. Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted among adults aged 18 and above. 200 individuals who had received either both doses of COVID-19 or at least one dosage of either COVID-19 participated in this survey, which was performed online and involved the distribution of a self-administered questionnaire via social media. Result(s): Covishield was the most commonly administered vaccination (70%), followed by Covaxin (23%). The majority of respondents adhered to mask use after vaccination (82,5%), but 15% of respondents adhered to mask use less after vaccination than before. 2.5% of respondents reported an increase in mask use. Physical distancing was shown to be less after vaccination among (65.5%) than before vaccination. 19% of study participants reported that their frequency of hand washing with soap and water decreased following vaccination. 31% of respondents said that their usage of hand sanitizer dropped following vaccination. Conclusion(s): It should be stressed to the public that getting vaccination does not make them invincible foe the various new strains in circulation of the virus. Strict policy making should be emphasized to make people follow COVID appropriate behavior at all times.Copyright © 2023, Institute of Medico-legal Publication. All rights reserved.
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ABSRACT: After the rapid spread of SARS-Cov-2 virus, the use of masks was suggested by the world health organization (WHO) to reduce the virus transmission, whose primary mode of transmission was suggested to be through respiratory droplets. The recommended face coverings were single use surgical and respirator masks made of non-woven materials. With the increased demand for masks worldwide, the environmental impacts of mask disposal and the pollution caused by microplastic fibers of the non-woven materials were presented. This challenge necessitates the need for the development of a novel reusable mask reducing the environmental effects, while providing the necessary personal protective properties. Based on the ASTM F2299 standard test method, the performance, i.e., particle-size dependent filtration efficiency and pressure drop were studied for 20 samples with multilayer knit fabrics of natural and synthetic fibers (inner layer of pure cotton, cotton-nylon and cotton-polyester, middle layer of Lycra, and outer layer of superhydrophobic polyester). The results show that all the samples had an efficiency of >94% and 87–99% for large (250 (Formula presented.) –1 (Formula presented.) m) and small (100–250 nm) particles, respectively. The best performing structure has a material composition of 41% superhydrophobic polyester, 26% natural cotton, 24% nylon and 9% Lycra. The filtration efficiency, pressure drop, and quality factor for this sample are 97.8% (for 100 nm particles), 4.04 mmH2O/cm2 and 4.77 kPa−1, respectively. It was also demonstrated that the developed mask maintains its performance after 50 wash/dry cycles, verifying its reusability. It should be noted that charge neutralizer was not used in the experimental setup of this study which might have led to enhanced results for the filtration efficiency of small (100–250 nm) particles due to the dominance of electrostatic attraction. However, several samples were tested by the third-party company who uses a certified testing equipment based on ASTM F2299, and similar results were obtained. Copyright © 2022 American Association for Aerosol Research.
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Introduction. At various stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, face coverings have been recommended and encouraged as one of the interventions to reduce transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, in the earlier stages of the pandemic, decisions on face coverings relied primarily on evidence based on other viral respiratory infections. More direct evidence on the use of face coverings with COVID-19 developed in tandem with the pandemic. Health Technology Wales undertook an ultra-rapid review to inform national guidelines, the work assessed the evidence on the effectiveness of face coverings to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We also reviewed evidence on the efficacy of different types of face coverings. Methods.Weconducted a systematic literature search for evidence to address (i) the effectiveness of face coverings to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community, and (ii) the efficacy of different types of face coverings designed for use in community settings. We identified a rapid review in 2021 by Public Health England that closely aligned with our review questions. This provided the main source for identifying relevant studies, supplemented by a search for publications following their search date. Results. We identified two evidence reviews (including the Public Health England review) that examined the effectiveness of face coverings on reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2;reporting on 31 and 39 studies, respectively. Two further primary studies were published after the two evidence review searches were included. Overall, the evidence suggested that face coverings may provide benefits in preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission, although the higher-quality studies suggested that these benefits may be modest. Medical masks appeared to have higher efficacy than fabric masks, although the evidence was mixed. Conclusions. At the time of this review, evidence on the effectiveness of face coverings remains limited and conclusions rely on low-quality sources of evidence with high risk of bias, although higher-quality evidence points to some benefit. Face coverings may play a role in preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2, particularly as part of a bundle of other preventative measures.
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The second component of this three-paper series studying cloth face masks for children ages 4 to 6 years old concentrates on optimizing aerosol capture and air permeability through fabric selection. Material choices were evaluated in two modes: Flat Filter (FF) and Head Form (HF). FF isolates material factors while HF simulates the performance of the constructed masks on a 3D printed child head form. In FF mode, higher filtration efficiency correlated to lower air permeability in both reusable commercial and experimental face masks regardless of fiber contents, fabric structures, and number of layers. Our prototype face mask developed in design exploration successfully captured 37 +/- 12% of 0.3 mu m, 87 +/- 3% of 0.5 mu m, and 87 +/- 2% of 1.0 mu m particles while maintaining good air permeability, moisture capture, and aerosolized salt capture in HF mode. Sealing masks to minimize outward leakage reduced particle capture up to 64%. Particle leakage data captured at the eye level of the head form illuminated the synergy between mask design, material choice, and fit.
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As of June1st 2021, more than 17 crore people have been infected with COVID-19 across the globe, and almost 3 crore people have been infected in India. The virus can spread through even normal actions like talking with particle emission rates inversely correlating with word frequency and volume, which can be reduced by covering the mouth. However, there is debate concerning the effectiveness of the various face mask types in preventing respiratory infections. Many have reported that wearing a mask is uncomfortable, especially when worn for long hours and while performing strenuous activities. Another disease that has raised its head is mucormycosis. However, COVID-19 can be a serious infection in many, with many fatalities. It is not yet clear how much protection vaccines give, and in a hugely populated country like India, it may be very difficult to vaccinate the whole population. Moreover, the vaccination for pediatric groups has just started. So, it is imperative to wear masks that can be protective against infection. However, some people believe that a straightforward cotton mask is insufficient. We set out to analyze the efficacy of masks through this investigation. According to the results of this systematic review, there are no studies that give conclusive evidence that using face masks as recommended by current public health guidelines will stop this condition. This is a significant discovery that should be communicated to the scientific community and calls into question the rationale for inconsistent and differing public health recommendations. Copyright © 2022, Indian Association of Biomedical Scientists. All rights reserved.
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Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 is a pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The outbreak was first identified in the city of Wuhan, Hubei, China in December 2019, and was recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. The virus primarily spreads among people via respiratory droplets from coughing, breathing, or sneezing. To reduce virus transmission, close contact between people is discouraged. In response to advice by health practitioners, individuals are advised to wear face masks, regularly wash their hands, and apply sanitisers. However, the effectiveness of locally manufactured masks against COVID 19 and other microbes has not been investigated. Aims and methods: The current study aimed to experimentally determine and compare the effectiveness of two approved surgical masks and two face masks fabricated at the University of Dodoma (UDOM). Results: The effectiveness of the UDOM-made mask was similar when compared to surgical masks (Mann-Whitney, U = 390.000, p > 0.05;Mean ranks: Japan fabric = 32.5;N95 surgical mask = 28.50). However, the Japan fabric mask made at UDOM was more effective than BBL surgical mask made in China (Mann-Whitney, U = 270.000, p < 0.05;Mean ranks: Japan fabric = 24.50;BBL surgical mask = 36.50). Whereas the handkerchief mask made at UDOM and BBL surgical mask had similar levels of effectiveness (Mann-Whitney, U = 369.500, p > 0.05;Mean Ranks: Handkerchief = 27.82;BBL surgical mask = 33.18). The results obtained suggest that the two UDOM types were as effective as the N95 and BBL masks in reducing virus spread. Conclusion: The study recommends the determination of pore sizes of the materials used to make the mask to explain the effectiveness of the single layer, double layers, and double layers with cotton blends in the prevention of different microbes inhalable.
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The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the life of people worldwide. We used a cross-sectional survey to evaluate the effects of pandemic on inflammatory bowel disease patients registered with Johns Hopkins. We assessed the methods used to minimize the risk of infection, coping mechanisms, changes in disease activity and management in the first 6 months of pandemic. Of the 405 patients who completed the questionnaire, 240 (58.8%) had Crohn's disease, 132 (32.6%) ulcerative colitis and 35 (8.6%) unclassified IBD.The median (IQR) age was 49 (28, 71). Two hundred seventy-three (67.4%) received biologics including patients on hospital-based (4.2%) infusions, outpatient-based infusions (26.7%) and home infusion (22.2%). Majority had other comorbidities, either heart (142/35.1%) or lung disease (19/ 4.7%), diabetes (22/5.4%), hypertension (77/19%), or obesity (13/3.2%). Most patients were at low risk for infection as they lived in a non-metropolitan area (291 patients, 71.8%), did not report close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 individual (373, 92.1%), did not travel to an area with high rates of COVID-19 (381, 94.1%) and did not use public transportation (379, 93.6%). All but 2 were taking protective measures such as use of N-95 mask (90, 22.2%), commercially (271, 66.9%) or homemade mask (208, 51.4%), sanitizer (363, 89.6%) or gloves (96, 23.7%). Additionally, patients used dietary/herbal supplements (55, 13.6%), dietary modifications (98, 24.2%) to support immunity (35, 8.6%), prevent an IBD flare (28, 6.9%), or minimize medications (48, 11.9%). The most common supplement used was Vitamin C (28, 50.9%), and D (42, 76.4%). Most (344, 84.7%) had no adjustments to their medications during pandemic, 31 (7.7%) discontinued their medication and 31 (7.7%) had to add a medication. Pandemic had, reportedly, no effect to the lives of 44 (20.9%) patients but 28 (13.3%) felt depressed, 70 (33.2%) anxious, 9 (4.3%) lost their income and 60 (28.4%) had other non-specified effects. The most common stress reduction techniques used were exercise (261, 64.4%), yoga (76, 18.8%), art therapy (23, 5.7%), music therapy (40, 9.9%), journaling (28, 6.9%), and guided Imagery (18, 4.4%). Fifty-eight (14.3%) used stress reduction medications. Eight (2%) reported SARS-CoV-2 infection. Median (IQR) age was 39 years (22,50)(Table 1). The majority had CD (6, 75%) and the infection was treated at home (6, 75%). One required admission to ICU. Infection led to worsening of the disease in 2 (25%). One (12.5%) discontinued IBD treatment. Our data suggest that most IBD patients followed low risk activities and were adherent to personal protective equipment and used stress reduction techniques and dietary supplements to cope with pandemic and avoid flares. Infection rates were low and the majority did not require admission to the hospital. In the majority infection did not cause an IBD exacerbation. (Table Presented)
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Introduction The Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is a practical and simple test that requires no exercise equipment or advanced training. While it serves as an evaluation tool for assessing baseline functional status and response to treatments, it is also well documented as a predictor of morbidity and mortality for patients being evaluated for pulmonary hypertension and lung transplantation. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, CDC guidelines recommend face coverings or masks in all healthcare settings. Prior small studies have shown that both n95 respirators and surgical masks worn during the 6MWT do not affect physiologic parameters during the test (heart rate, oxygen saturation), however, subjects did report an increase in dyspnea. During the pandemic, cloth masks are frequently worn in lieu of medical masks. No studies to date have looked at how cloth masks affect parameters measured during the 6MWT. We set out to explore how cloth masks specifically might affect 6MWT data. Methods We enrolled 25 healthy adult (18+) volunteers and had them undergo three 6-minute walk test trials, with 4-minute rest intervals in between each trial. The first two trials were without masks, and the third was with a cloth mask of the subject's choosing. As these were healthy volunteers with no prior 6-minute test trials, we anticipated an improvement between the first and second trials due to a possible learning effect. We recorded baseline data (gender, age, weight) prior to any trial. We then recorded each subject's heart-rate, oxygen saturation and perceived dyspnea (utilizing the modified Borg dyspnea scale) prior to the first trial and after each consecutive trial. We also measured distance walked in each trial. Data from the second (no-mask) trials were compared with the third (masked) trials. ResultsNo differences were noted in mean modified Borg scale scores when the subjects walked without a mask versus with a cloth mask (0.64 vs. 1.14;p=0.157). Similarly, no differences were noted in mean heart rate (99.7 beats/min vs. 101.3 beats/min;p=0.824), oxygen saturation (98.3% vs. 96.1%, p=0.317) or distance walked (1842.8 vs. 1793.9;p=0.552).ConclusionIn healthy subjects, cloth masks did not affect perception of dyspnea, heart rate, oxygen saturation or walk distance when undergoing the 6-minute walk test. Further studies with a larger sample size are required to better identify how cloth masks impact 6MWT data, as well as how these results can be applied to those with lung disease undergoing the test.
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Background: Currently the Center for Disease Control has advised the use of face coverings to prevent transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to those who are unvaccinated. This study seeks to evaluate if cloth masks have increased efficiency with the addition of a filter material. Methods: An adult airway and test lung model were exposed to nebulized ‘coarse’ aerosol droplets (0.5-11 µm) and humidified ‘fine’ water vapor particles (0.03-0.05 µm). Aerosol was quantified based on particles deposited on the face, airway and lung model. Tracheal humidity levels characterized fine particle permeability. Both phases of testing were conducted by evaluating the following testing conditions: 1) no mask;2) cloth mask;3) cloth mask with Swiffer™ filter;4) cloth mask with Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MN1 -https://media.proquest.com/media/hms/PFT/1/hK3pM?_a=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%3D%3D&_s=7m0CVC1lZWe%2FPfCJ7CyMM2ys0bg%3D ERV) 15 filter;4) cloth mask with PM2.5 filter 5) surgical mask and 6) N95 respirator. Results: All mask conditions provided greater filtration from coarse particles when compared to no mask (P<0.05). All cloth mask with filter combinations were better at stopping fine particles in comparison to no mask. A cloth mask without a filter and surgical mask performed similarly to no mask with fine particles (P<0.05). The cloth mask with MERV 15 filter and the surgical mask performed similarly to the N95 with course particles, while the cloth mask with Swiffer™ performed similarly to the N95 with the fine particles (P<0.05). Conclusions: Respiratory viruses including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza are spread through exposure to respiratory secretions that are aerosolized by infected individuals. The findings from this study suggest that a mask can filter these potentially infectious airborne particles.
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Masks are essential for COVID-19 prevention, but recently they were suggested to modify cutaneous facial microenvironment and trigger acne, named ''maskne''. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of maskne and possible risk factors. This prospective, multicenter study that was carried out during the 2nd lockdown from November 2020 to January 2021 through an online questionnaire, was sent to all registered users of the University of West Attica, in Greece and 1854 volunteers were responded. There were 5 types of face masks used by the study population. Most participants reported that they were using more than one type of mask, alternately or at the same time. There were 2 types of masks most frequently used;surgical masks (mean: 3,2 SD =,95) and fabric masks (mean: 3.08, SD = 1.04). Surgical masks were used mainly by Health Care Workers (HCWs) (p<.001) and fabric masks from students and educational staff (p<.001). Onset or ex-acerbation of acne was found in the study population (n: 996, 53.8%). It was more common to HCWs and students (n: 747, 56.4%) and associated with the type of masks, daily use of make-up and moisturizing cream and hours per day of wearing face masks. Previous history of acne vulgaris was reported from 557 participants while 318 (57,1%) (p < .001) mentioned re-appearance of their maskne phenomenon is an important clinical sign to orient clinician's therapeutic protocols during COVID-19 pandemic. To our knowledge, this is the most multitudinous study in Greek population, assessing the impact of prolonged use of face masks with the appearance of maskne.
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Synthetic dyes have high fastness property and are stable under diverse conditions but over time it is seen that they are toxic to the environment and some are carcinogenic. Dyes derived from natural sources like tartrazine, cochineal red and sunset yellow may cause allergies when used alone or in a combination. Some of the colourants that had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in various industries like food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics are found to promote cancer. The purpose of the present study is to extract natural dyes from peel of fruits and vegetables, flowers and study the effect of different mordanting techniques (pre-mordanting, simultaneous mordanting, post-mordanting) on dyeing, The extracts were applied as direct dyes in the presence of mordants. Dyeing of cotton cloth was performed using extracts of Pomegranate peel (Punica granatum), Orange peel (Citrus sinensis), Marigold flowers (Tagetes erecta), Kidney bean seed coat (Phaseolus vulgaris). Colour strength, shade and fastness properties of the dyes have been tested. In pre and post mordanting, colour change was observed in Marigold and Pomegranate. In simultaneous mordanting, colour change was seen in Marigold, Pomegranate, Orange peel and Kidney bean. The obtained results have shown the dyeing potential of organic wastes as a source for cotton dyeing. Using waste as a source of natural dyes will help in reducing the environmental pollution. Our studies on market research for demand led us to the conclusion that there is demand for comfortable environmental friendly mask having increased functional properties.