Assessing the effect of beard hair lengths on face masks used as personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Globally, a large percentage of men keep a beard at least occasionally. Workplace regulations prohibit beards with N95 respirators, but there is little information on the effect of beards with face masks worn by the public for protection against SARS-CoV-2.

Methods and findings

We examined the fitted filtration efficiency (FFE) of five commonly worn protective face masks as a function of beard length following the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration Quantitative Fit Test: N95 (respirator), KF94 and KN95, surgical/procedure, and cloth masks. A comparison using N95 respirators was carried out in shaven and bearded men. A detailed examination was conducted for beard lengths between 0 and 10 mm (0.5 mm increments). The effect of an exercise band covering

SUBMITTER: Prince SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8130778 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature