Open AccessReview of the Breathability and Filtration Efficiency of Common Household Materials for Face Masks
Author(s) -
Laura H. Kwong,
R. Keith Wilson,
Shailabh Kumar,
Yoshika Crider,
Yasmin Reyes Sanchez,
David Rempel,
Ajay Pillarisetti
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acs nano
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.554
H-Index - 382
eISSN - 1936-086X
pISSN - 1936-0851
DOI - 10.1021/acsnano.0c10146
Subject(s) - face masks , masking (illustration) , usability , filtration (mathematics) , face (sociological concept) , computer science , differential pressure , covid-19 , materials science , human–computer interaction , medicine , disease , art , social science , statistics , physics , mathematics , pathology , sociology , mechanics , infectious disease (medical specialty) , visual arts
The World Health Organization and the United States Centers for Disease Control have recommended universal face masking by the general public to slow the spread of COVID-19. A number of recent studies have evaluated the filtration efficiency and pressure differential (an indicator of breathability) of various, widely available materials that the general public can use to make face masks at home. In this review, we summarize those studies to provide guidance for both the public to select the best materials for face masks and for future researchers to rigorously evaluate and report on mask material testing. Of the tested fabric materials and material combinations with adequate breathability, most single and multilayer combinations had a filtration efficiency of <30%. Most studies evaluating commonly available mask materials did not follow standard methods that would facilitate comparison across studies, and materials were often described with too few details to allow consumers to purchase equivalent materials to make their own masks. To improve the usability of future study results, researchers should use standard methods and report material characteristics in detail.