Effects of surgical masks on aerosol dispersion in professional singing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the CoVID-19 pandemic, singing came into focus as a high-risk activity for the infection with airborne viruses and was therefore forbidden by many governmental administrations.

Objective

The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of surgical masks regarding the spatial and temporal dispersion of aerosol and droplets during professional singing.

Methods

Ten professional singers performed a passage of the Ludwig van Beethoven's "Ode of Joy" in two experimental setups-each with and without surgical masks. First, they sang with previously inhaled vapor of e-cigarettes. The emitted cloud was recorded by three cameras to measure its dispersion dynamics. Secondly, the naturally expelled larger droplets were illuminated by a laser light sheet and

SUBMITTER: Kniesburges S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8491963 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature