AN ACT OF FACE MASK MATERIAL USED TO PROTECT US FROM SARS-COV-2

“In the absence of a vaccine, or effective antiviral, one of our only remaining strategies for controlling COVID-19 is to physically block the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the community”

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global pandemic [1]. In the absence of a vaccine, or effective antiviral, one of our only remaining strategies for controlling COVID-19 is to physically block the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the community. Given that COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, the most effective physical defense likely involves widespread public use of face coverings, in conjunction with other control measures [2]. Face coverings (also variously referred to as face masks, nonmedical masks, community masks or barrier masks) function primarily in source control; capturing droplets expelled by an infected individual [3].

Figure 1. DIY masks to protect against from viruses sounds like a crazy idea. source click here

In the absence of an available vaccine or effective antiviral, most of the researchers/scientists are suggest that properly designed ‘do it yourself’ (DIY) face masks, fabricated from common household materials, represent the most efficient means of controlling community spread of SARS-CoV-2. DIY face masks reduce demand for medical grade personal protective equipment (PPE) such as N95 masks, thereby safeguarding the medical supply chain and protecting healthcare workers [4].

Furthermore, depending on the materials used, properly designed DIY face masks are often easier to use and more comfortable to wear for prolonged periods. [5]. While not as effective as PPE, several studies have shown that masks fashioned from common household materials (including tea cloths, pillowcases and T-shirts are at least partially effective in blocking viral spread.

Figure 2. Filtration properties of common materials before and after charging [6].

Indeed, Zhao et al. [6] to quantify the approach for most effective household materials (based on filtration quality factor, fabric microstructure and charging ability), for DIY mask fabrication. The COVID-19 pandemic is currently causing a severe disruption and shortage in the global supply chain of necessary personal protective equipment (e.g., N95 respirators).

The U.S. CDC has recommended the use of household cloth by the general public to make cloth face coverings as a method of source control. This report evaluated the filtration properties of natural and synthetic materials using a modified procedure for N95 respirator approval [6]. Common fabrics of cotton, polyester, nylon, and silk had filtration efficiency of 5-25%, polypropylene spun bond had filtration efficiency 6-10%, and paper-based products had filtration efficiency of 10-20% (Figure 2). An advantage of polypropylene spun bond is that it can be simply triboelectrically charged to enhance the filtration efficiency (from 6 to >10%) without any increase in pressure (stable overnight and in humid environments). Using the filtration quality factor, fabric microstructure, and charging ability, we can provide an assessment of suggested fabric materials for homemade facial coverings.

Proof of concept for the DIY approach is provided, at least in part, by Ma et al., [7], who have recently shown that homemade masks, composed of four layers of kitchen paper and one layer of cloth, could block 95.15% of the avian influenza virus, compared with 99.98% for N95 masks and 97.14% for surgical masks.

Thus, in the absence of a vaccination strategy, DIY face masks will likely play an important role in stemming the spread of SARS-CoV-2. In this report they conclude by introducing a new idiom to the epidemiology lexicon: in the absence of vaccination, mask-the-nation!

Future work of mast materials should use established techniques and officially recognized methods such as EN 1822 or ISO standard methods. [8] Using the important present findings   (Filtration efficiency (FE), differential pressure (ΔP), quality factor (QF), and construction parameters) for future research of cloth masks materials may include (1) investigating the relationship between fiber diameters, diameter ranges, and sources with FE and ΔP of select best performing fabrics, (2) an examination of the extent of napping or raised fibers on FE and ΔP and (3) the effect of washing/decontamination on FE, (4) the impact of seams, (5) the influence of relative humidity, or (6) high face velocities such as encountered during coughing or sneezing on FE.

Reference

1. Cucinotta D, Vanelli M. WHO declares COVID-19 a pandemic. Acta Biomed. 91(1), 157–160 (2020).

2. Sunjaya AP, Jenkins C. Rationale for universal face masks in public against COVID-19. Respirology 25(7), 678–679 (2020).

3. Esposito S, Principi N, Leung CC, Migliori GB. Universal use of face masks for success against COVID-19: evidence and implications for prevention policies. Eur. Respir. J. 55(6), 2001260 (2020).

4. Chirico F, Nucera G, Magnavita N. COVID-19: protecting healthcare workers is a priority. Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. doi:10.1017/ice.2020.148 1–4 (2020) (Epub ahead of print)

5. Roy D Sleator, Steven Darby, Alan Giltinan, and Niall Smith, Future Microbiol. 2020 doi: 10.2217/fmb-2020-0112.

6. Zhao M, Liao L, Xiao W et al. Household materials selection for homemade cloth face coverings and their  filtration efficiency enhancement with triboelectric charging. Nano Lett. doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c02211 (2020)

7. Ma QX, Shan H, Zhang HL, Li GM, Yang RM, Chen JM. Potential utilities of mask-wearing and instant hand hygiene for fighting SARS-CoV-2. J. Med. Virol. doi:10.1002/jmv.25805  (2020).

8. C. D. Zangmeister, J. G. Radney, E. P. Vicenzi, and J. L. Weaver, ACS Nano 2020, 14, 9188-9200.

Blog Written By

Dr. K. Rajkumar

Assistant Professor (Contract)

Department of Chemistry

Central University of Tamil Nadu

Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu.

Blog Editors
Dr. A. S. Ganeshraja

(contact click)

Dr. S. Chandrasekar