Thread by @ejustin46

"Evaluation of masks and mask material suitability for bioaerosol capture"

Key study 💯👍 Thanks to @DavidJoffe64
tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

2) This study evaluated different face masks and household materials to see how well they could filter out small particles like those from COVID-19. The researchers found that medical-grade surgical and N95 masks were the most effective, filtering out over 90% of particles.

3) Commercial cloth masks didn't perform as well, but the researchers discovered that layering certain household materials could achieve similar high filtration levels.

For example, using two layers of high-quality bedsheets plus two layers of ...

4) ...a high-efficiency furnace filter material resulted in 95% filtration. This shows that with the right combination of common materials, people can make their own effective masks at home, without needing to use scarce medical supplies.

5) The researchers also looked at how easy it was to breathe through the different masks and materials. They used a "quality factor" that balanced both filtration and breathability. This provided practical guidance on creating comfortable yet protective homemade masks.

6) The key takeaway is that the general public can make their own highly effective face coverings using readily available household items.

Thanks for reading 🙏