[ad_1]
A new study published in the “Biophysical Journal” revealed that condensation inside the mask can help reduce the amount of damage that the Corona virus can cause if a person becomes infected.
Increased humidity in the air between a person’s mouth and mask is believed to help the wearer’s body clear viral particles from the airways.
Experts from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that the moisture caused by the mask hydrates the respiratory system and clears infected mucus, preventing it from reaching the lungs, where it can cause damage and lead to to severe cases. of “Covid”.
And the team from the National Institutes of Health proceeded to learn more about previous research, which found that people who wear masks often have less dangerous forms of “Covid-19.”
Dr Adrian Bax, lead author of the new study, said: “High humidity levels have been shown to reduce the severity of influenza, and may be applicable to the severity of ‘Covid-19’ through a similar mechanism. .
Four masks were tested to see how they affected the humidity level.
One volunteer breathed into a 95.3-liter box, without wearing a mask, an N95 mask, a surgical mask, a two-layer cotton-polyester mask, and a heavy cotton mask.
Any leaks around the edges of the mask were eliminated by applying high-density latex foam around the mask and on the volunteer’s face. The water content in the air was measured in each case to reveal how much water the mask was trapping.
Humidity readings were taken at three temperatures: 8 ° C, 22 ° C, and 37 ° C.
“The ability of different types of synthetic and natural fibers to absorb water is highly dependent on temperature. Natural fibers such as wool, cotton, and silk are particularly effective at absorbing water, whereas synthetic fibers made of polyester or nylon does it to a much lesser degree. ” the authors wrote in the document. “.
At room temperature, the surgical mask increased the humidity of the inhaled air by more than a third (38%), while the N95 caps and polyester cotton sheets increased the water content in the inhaled air by up to 60%.
The researchers found that heavy cotton masks doubled the humidity of the inhaled air.
Dr Pax said: “Increasing the humidity level is something that most mask wearers can feel without being able to recognize it and without realizing that this humidity could actually be good for them.”
Dr. Griffin Rodgers, Director of the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Systems at the National Institutes of Health, added: “Even as more people begin to get vaccinated across the country, we must remain vigilant to do our part to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus that causes Covid-19 ”. This research supports the importance of wearing a mask as a simple and effective way to protect the people around us and to protect ourselves from respiratory infections, especially during these winter months when the susceptibility to infection by viruses increases.
[ad_2]
