Face masks are used worldwide to reduce COVID-19 transmission in indoor environments. Differently from face respirators, there are no standards methods for measuring the fraction of air leaking at the face seal of loose-fitting masks such as medical and community masks. This study applies a recently developed method to quantify air leakage at the face seal to 14 medical and community mask models with the aim to understand the role of mask design and filter properties in air leakage. An instrumented head-form equipped with sensors for measuring volumetric airflow and differential pressure was used to simulate the air exhalation from the mouth of a person wearing a face mask. Results showed that the fraction of leaking air at the face seal is not negligible and can range from 10% to 95% according to mask model. The higher the exhaled airflow rate and the lower the amount of leaking fraction. A strong correlation was found between leaking fraction and filter breathability, indicating that a better breathability can lower air leakage. Highly breathable filtering materials should be employed in the production of medical and community face masks to maximize user comfort and minimize the fraction of exhaled air leaking unfiltered at the face seal.

The role of filter breathability in reducing the fraction of exhaled air leaking from surgical and community face masks / Chiera, S.; Cristoforetti, A.; Benedetti, L.; Borro, L.; Mazzei, L.; Nollo, G.; Tessarolo, F.. - (2022), pp. 1-6. (Intervento presentato al convegno 17th IEEE International Symposium on Medical Measurements and Applications, MeMeA 2022 tenutosi a UNAHOTELS Naxos Beach, Messina, Italy nel 22-24 June 2022) [10.1109/MeMeA54994.2022.9856516].

The role of filter breathability in reducing the fraction of exhaled air leaking from surgical and community face masks

Chiera S.
Primo
;
Cristoforetti A.;Benedetti L.;Nollo G.;Tessarolo F.
Ultimo
2022-01-01

Abstract

Face masks are used worldwide to reduce COVID-19 transmission in indoor environments. Differently from face respirators, there are no standards methods for measuring the fraction of air leaking at the face seal of loose-fitting masks such as medical and community masks. This study applies a recently developed method to quantify air leakage at the face seal to 14 medical and community mask models with the aim to understand the role of mask design and filter properties in air leakage. An instrumented head-form equipped with sensors for measuring volumetric airflow and differential pressure was used to simulate the air exhalation from the mouth of a person wearing a face mask. Results showed that the fraction of leaking air at the face seal is not negligible and can range from 10% to 95% according to mask model. The higher the exhaled airflow rate and the lower the amount of leaking fraction. A strong correlation was found between leaking fraction and filter breathability, indicating that a better breathability can lower air leakage. Highly breathable filtering materials should be employed in the production of medical and community face masks to maximize user comfort and minimize the fraction of exhaled air leaking unfiltered at the face seal.
2022
2022 IEEE International Symposium on Medical Measurements and Applications, MeMeA 2022 - Conference Proceedings
Piscataway, NJ USA
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
978-1-6654-8299-8
Chiera, S.; Cristoforetti, A.; Benedetti, L.; Borro, L.; Mazzei, L.; Nollo, G.; Tessarolo, F.
The role of filter breathability in reducing the fraction of exhaled air leaking from surgical and community face masks / Chiera, S.; Cristoforetti, A.; Benedetti, L.; Borro, L.; Mazzei, L.; Nollo, G.; Tessarolo, F.. - (2022), pp. 1-6. (Intervento presentato al convegno 17th IEEE International Symposium on Medical Measurements and Applications, MeMeA 2022 tenutosi a UNAHOTELS Naxos Beach, Messina, Italy nel 22-24 June 2022) [10.1109/MeMeA54994.2022.9856516].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11572/364204
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