Evaluation of fiber and debris release from protective COVID-19 mask textiles and in vitro acute cytotoxicity effects.

ABSTRACT: Since the start of the current COVID-19 pandemic, for the first time a significant fraction of the world's population cover their respiratory system for an extended period with mostly medical facemasks and textile masks. This new situation raises questions about the extent of mask related debris (fibers and particles) being released and inhaled and possible adverse effects on human health. This study aimed to quantify the debris release from a textile-based facemask in comparison to a surgical mask and a reference cotton textile using both liquid and air extraction. Under liquid extractions, cotton-based textiles released up to 29'452 ± 1'996 fibers g^-1 textile while synthetic textiles released up to 1'030 ± 115 fibers g^-1 textile. However, when the masks were subject

SUBMITTER: Meier P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9212752 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature