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Can disposable masks be worn more than once?
Chen, Hao; Samet, James M; Tong, Haiyan; Abzhanova, Aiman; Rappold, Ana G; Prince, Steven E.
  • Chen H; Oak Ridge Institute for Science Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA.
  • Samet JM; Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
  • Tong H; Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
  • Abzhanova A; Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
  • Rappold AG; Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
  • Prince SE; Public Health and Environmental Systems Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf ; 242: 113908, 2022 Sep 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2254538
ABSTRACT
Disposable facemasks are a primary tool to prevent the transmission of SARS-COV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, plastic waste generated from their disposal represents a significant environmental problem that can be reduced by maximizing the service life of disposable masks. We evaluated the effect of repeated wearing on the fitted filtration efficiency (FFE) of N95, KF94, KN95, and procedure/surgical masks. The FFEs of masks were compared following extended wearing with and without washing. Results reveal that most disposable facemasks can retain a high level of their baseline FFE after extended wearing, even after 40 h of wearing. Laundering disposable masks degraded FFE in some instances. We conclude that the durability of disposable facemask performance is considerably longer than their intended single use indication, suggesting that reusing disposable masks is a safe means of reducing plastic waste in the environment.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Masks Type of study: Experimental Studies Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Ecotoxicol Environ Saf Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.ecoenv.2022.113908

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Masks Type of study: Experimental Studies Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: Ecotoxicol Environ Saf Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.ecoenv.2022.113908