Abstract View
The Use of Common Material to Alternative Masks for General Public: Fractional Filtration Efficiency and Breathability Perspective
CHENXING PEI, Qisheng Ou, Seong Chan Kim, Sheng-Chieh Chen, David Y. H. Pui, University of Minnesota
Abstract Number: 274
Working Group: The Role of Aerosol Science in the Understanding of the Spread and Control of COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases
Abstract
As COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than 8 million confirmed cases globally (as of Jun 18th, 2020), it is critical to slow down the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 to protect the healthcare system from overload. Wearing a respirator or a mask has been proven as an effective method to protect both wearer and others, but commercially available respirators and masks should be reserved for healthcare workers under currently desperate shortage. The use of the alternative material becomes an option for general public to make the DIY masks, with their efficacy seldom reported. In this study, we tested commercial respirators and masks, furnace filters, vacuum cleaner filters, and common household materials. We evaluated materials’ fractional filtration efficiency and breathing resistance, which are primary factors affecting the respiratory protection. To compare the efficiency-resistance tradeoff, figure of merit of each tested common material was also calculated. Media with electrostatic charge (electret) is recommended due to its high efficiency with low flow resistance; multiple-layer household fabrics and sterilization wraps are acceptable materials; coffee filter is inadvisable due to its low efficiency. The outcome of this study can not only offer guidance for general public under current pandemic, but also suggest the appropriate alternative respiratory protection materials under heavy air pollution episode.