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Dr. Alex Huffman (he/him) Profile picture
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5 Jan, 6 tweets, 4 min read
It's frustrating to see pervasive misunderstanding that N95 masks (respirators) need to be fitted or they are useless. Some of the same people champion surgical masks instead.
Illogical - If N95s don't work unless prof. fitted, how could surgical masks w/ big gaps work better? 1/
2/ The chart & thread here gathered by @akm5376 helps add perspective. Yes, a professionally fitted N95 provides tremendous protection! But even a un-fitted N95 is better than almost anything else, b/c the filtration is great & fit is already good.
3/ This is a nice thread by @claire_horwell on the differences between surgical masks and respirators.
(BTW, Prof. Horwell has been on a tear lately with a great OpEd & a number of great threads - worth following!)
4/ Another thread with some nice discussion on surgical masks vs others, by @caruzycki.
There are tons of other threads, scientific reports, and media articles on these topics. Not systematically summarized in this thread. Just an impromptu sampling.
5/ This is an old thread, but is still relevant and has some good videos & images of surgical mask leakage.
Now matter how you slice it, wear a mask with the highest filtration quality and make sure it seals well all around your face.
6/ Again, just an impromptu gathering of info, but here are a few other threads with various links to articles & discussion about using #BetterMasks:




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Dr. Alex Huffman (he/him) Profile picture
6 Jan
If you have more experience & credibility than Dr. @brosseau_lisa on topics of industrial hygiene, aerosol science & mask use, etc. - then by all means speak up.
Otherwise, dispense w/ silliness that surgical masks are safer than N95s. Use #BetterMasks.
🔹cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspecti…
2/ See also this additional flurry of tweets by @brosseau_lisa on the importance & use of high-quality N95 respirators:
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3/ Regarding new mask mandates:
“Once you go into a store & you know you’re gonna be there for more than a couple minutes, you’ve got to wear a respirator.”: @brosseau_lisa
Look for NIOSH stamp & a tight fit. "If it has ear loops, it's not a respirator."
minnesota.cbslocal.com/2022/01/06/bes…
Read 4 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman (he/him) Profile picture
17 Dec 21
Another good study simulating effects of masks, HEPA cleaners, ventilation in a small meeting room. By NIOSH team incl. Lindsley, et al.
mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/1…

🔸 Masks reduced aerosol by 50% +
🔸 Additive further exposure reduction w/ any combo of HEPA, ventilation
Summary 🧵
2/ For reference, this is essentially the same NIOSH team that did some other really nice work on masks and air cleaners:
e.g.:
And:
3/ The experimental team here used one aerosol source (0.3 - 3 microns) and three recipients, in various combinations. They used a relatively small room (54 m3) with 2 ACH on low fan speed in order to simulate a realistic meeting-type room.
Read 12 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman (he/him) Profile picture
5 Dec 21
Nice mask study ~consistent w/ prev. results.
pnas.org/content/118/49…

"... face masks sign. reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to social distancing. We find a very low risk of inf. when everyone wears a face mask, even if it doesn’t fit perfectly on the face." 1/🧵
2/ The authors perform "upper bound" analyses to get around complexities in modeling risk.

"We conclude that wearing appropriate masks in the community provides excellent protection for others and oneself, and makes social distancing less important."
pnas.org/content/118/49…
3/ I especially like this overview schematic comparing FFP2 (~N95) to surgical mask usage based on combos between two people.

Consistent with the old refrain "any mask is better than no mask, but masks with better fit & filtration protect much more."
Read 14 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman (he/him) Profile picture
2 Dec 21
The #Omicron variant has been found in Colorado, thx to thorough surveillance by @CDPHE.

Omicron cases now detected in three counties in the US. I live in one of them. Seems like a great*time to take both individual & collective responsibility to slow spread. How?
Short 🧵 Image
2/ Don't freak out. It's "not a time for panic, a time for caution." You have some indiv control over your COVID health risk:
✅ Vax + boost yourself & family
✅ Wear a tight-fitting, high-quality mask
When possible:
✅ Avoid crowded areas
✅ Move meetings outside
✅ Open windows
3/ Loads of resources on what high-quality mask to choose & the #COVIDisAirborne safety protocols that you can follow.

A couple example recent threads on #BetterMasks:
*
Read 10 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman (he/him) Profile picture
1 Dec 21
"Mask mandates are back for the Denver metro area. Here are the types of masks you should be wearing."
Article by @oscarcontrarius for @DenverChannel

Me: Although any mask can help some … just ditch your old one & upgrade to better fit & quality.
[1/🧵]
thedenverchannel.com/news/coronavir…
2/ On the subject of #BetterMasks and new #MaskMandates, I recently gathered a bit more info & motivation in this thread:
3/ Messages by @Sandyboots2020 are spot on; we need #BetterMasks

Cloth?: “So that is about as much use as a chocolate teapot” 🫖
N95 or FFP2+: Let's just suck it up and decide to wear better masks, for everyone's sake.
Read 10 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman (he/him) Profile picture
1 Dec 21
Led by @RommieAmaro, "a team of 50 scientists has for the first time created an atomic simulation of the coronavirus nestled in a tiny airborne drop of water."

“People have literally never seen what this looks like.”
Article by @carlzimmer @13pt: nytimes.com/interactive/20…
(1/x)
2/ The @nytimes article by @carlzimmer @13pt is a fantastic overview of the complexity of viruses hitching a ride in aerosols. Little drops full of virus, proteins, mucins, surfactants, lung fluid, water.

The simulations are mind-blowingly cool.
nytimes.com/interactive/20…
3/ And crazy complicated: "the researchers needed one of the world’s biggest supercomputers to assemble 1.3 billion atoms & track all their movements down to less than a millionth of a second."

“While molecular modeling is not a new thing, the scale of this is next-level”
Read 7 tweets

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