Masks and respirators to prevent SARS CoV-2 transmission: types, protection, when to use and spotting the fake
Keywords:
Covid-19, Respirators, Masks, Coronavirus
Abstract
Barring the availability of a vaccine or a definite treatment, the use of personal protective equipment (PPEs) is the best form of defense against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. PPE, defined as ‘equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses, includes masks and respirators, goggles, face-shield, gloves, coverall/gowns (with or without aprons), headcover and shoe cover. Not only can wearing a mask reduces the risk of transmission, but it can also lower the spread when a sick person wears it [1]. WHO-backed study suggests that face masks may reduce COVID-19 spread by 85%. The risk of transmission of infection was 3% with a mask compared with 17% without a mask. Without eye protection, the chance of infection was 16%, and with protection around 6%.[2]
This review is intended to inform the readers about the different types of masks available, who should wear them, which masks to wear, and the latest information that is available on the role of masks in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
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References
1. https://www.who.int/medical_devices/meddev_ppe/en/
2. https://www.livescience.com/face-masks-eye-protection-covid-19-prevention.html
3. https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/prevention/ppe/surgical_mask.html
4. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/n95-respirators-surgical-masks-and-face-masks
5. https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/601738O/3m-disposable-respirators-brochure.pdf
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7. https://www.firstpost.com/health/centre-warns-against-use-of-n95-masks-with-valves-says-they-are-detrimental-in-preventing-covid-19-8622051.html
8. Strasser, Bruno J; Schlich, Thomas "A history of the medical mask and the rise of throwaway culture". The Lancet 2020; 396 (10243): 19–20.
9. Chua MH, Cheng W, Tan H, Li Z, Tan BH, Loh XJ. "Face Masks in the New COVID-19 Normal: Materials, Testing, and Perspectives". Research. 2020:7286735. doi:10.34133/2020/7286735. PMC 7429109. PMID 32832908
10. European Standards. UNE EN 14683:2019+AC:2019. Medical Face Masks -Requirements and Test Methods. 2019; (https://www.en-standard.eu/une-en-14683-2019
11. F23 Committee, n.d. Specification for Performance of Materials Used in Medical Face Masks. ASTM International. (https://doi.org/10.1520/F2100-19E01
12. https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/plant-facility-equipment/how-to-make-n95-masks/
13. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/96-101/default.html
14. https://www.eu-esf.org/covid-19/4647-covid-19-is-a-mask-a-mask
15. https://bis.gov.in/index.php/relaxations-for-covid-19/
16. Liu, Y, Cheng, BW, Wang, N, et al. Development and performance study of polypropylene/polyester bicomponent melt-blowns for filtration. J ApplPolymSci 2012; 124: 296–301.
17. Maduna, L, Patnaik, A. Textiles in air filtration. Text Prog 2017; 49: 173–247.
18. https://www.who-2019-nCov-IPC_masks-2020.4-eng.pdf
19. https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/MGH/pdf/news/coronavirus/list-of-aerosol-generating-procedures.pdf
20. https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Advisory&ManualonuseofHomemadeProtectiveCoverforFace&Mouth.pdf
21. https://wildcraft.com/ppg/masks. Accessed on August 19, 2020.
22. CDC: “Sequence for donning personal protective equipment PPE/Sequence for removing personal protective equipment.” [Online] Available at https://www.cdc.gov/HAI/pdfs/ppe/ppeposter148.pdfpdf icon
23. Edward M. Fisher & Ronald E. Shaffer (2014) Considerations for Recommending Extended Use and Limited Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators in Health Care Settings, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 11:8, D115-D128, DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2014.902954
24. Bergman, M.S., D.J. Viscusi, Z. Zhuang, A.J. Palmiero, J.B. Powell, and R.E. Shaffer: Impact of multiple consecutive donnings on filtering facepiece respirator fit. American Journal of Infection Control 2012: 40(4): 375-380.
25. Terrence J. Stobbe, Robert A Daroza, Margo A Watkins. Facial Hair and Respirator Fit: A Review of the Literature. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 1988; 49 (4)
26. Evan L. Floyd, J. Blake Henry, David L. Johnson. Influence of facial hair length, coarseness, and areal density on seal leakage of a tight-fitting half-face respirator. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 2018; 15:4:334-340
27. Advice on the use of masks in the community, during home care, and in healthcare settings in the context of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. https://www.who.int/publications-detail/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-th...(2019-ncov)-outbreak (accessed 18 Apr 2020).
28. Desai AN, Aronoff DM. Masks and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). JAMA 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.6437
29. Antonio I Lazzarino Steptoe A, Hamer M, Michie S. Face masks for the public during the covid-19 crisis. BMJ 2020; 369 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1435
30. Pearl Shuang, Ye Tong, Anita Sugam Kale, Kailyn Ng, et al. Respiratory consequences of N95-type mask usage in pregnant healthcare workers—a controlled clinical study. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2015; 4:48.
31. Chen Y, Zhou Z, Min W. Mitochondria, Oxidative Stress, and Innate Immunity. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1487
2. https://www.livescience.com/face-masks-eye-protection-covid-19-prevention.html
3. https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/prevention/ppe/surgical_mask.html
4. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/n95-respirators-surgical-masks-and-face-masks
5. https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/601738O/3m-disposable-respirators-brochure.pdf
6. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/certain-type-n95-mask-harm-covid19-spread
7. https://www.firstpost.com/health/centre-warns-against-use-of-n95-masks-with-valves-says-they-are-detrimental-in-preventing-covid-19-8622051.html
8. Strasser, Bruno J; Schlich, Thomas "A history of the medical mask and the rise of throwaway culture". The Lancet 2020; 396 (10243): 19–20.
9. Chua MH, Cheng W, Tan H, Li Z, Tan BH, Loh XJ. "Face Masks in the New COVID-19 Normal: Materials, Testing, and Perspectives". Research. 2020:7286735. doi:10.34133/2020/7286735. PMC 7429109. PMID 32832908
10. European Standards. UNE EN 14683:2019+AC:2019. Medical Face Masks -Requirements and Test Methods. 2019; (https://www.en-standard.eu/une-en-14683-2019
11. F23 Committee, n.d. Specification for Performance of Materials Used in Medical Face Masks. ASTM International. (https://doi.org/10.1520/F2100-19E01
12. https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/plant-facility-equipment/how-to-make-n95-masks/
13. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/96-101/default.html
14. https://www.eu-esf.org/covid-19/4647-covid-19-is-a-mask-a-mask
15. https://bis.gov.in/index.php/relaxations-for-covid-19/
16. Liu, Y, Cheng, BW, Wang, N, et al. Development and performance study of polypropylene/polyester bicomponent melt-blowns for filtration. J ApplPolymSci 2012; 124: 296–301.
17. Maduna, L, Patnaik, A. Textiles in air filtration. Text Prog 2017; 49: 173–247.
18. https://www.who-2019-nCov-IPC_masks-2020.4-eng.pdf
19. https://www.massgeneral.org/assets/MGH/pdf/news/coronavirus/list-of-aerosol-generating-procedures.pdf
20. https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Advisory&ManualonuseofHomemadeProtectiveCoverforFace&Mouth.pdf
21. https://wildcraft.com/ppg/masks. Accessed on August 19, 2020.
22. CDC: “Sequence for donning personal protective equipment PPE/Sequence for removing personal protective equipment.” [Online] Available at https://www.cdc.gov/HAI/pdfs/ppe/ppeposter148.pdfpdf icon
23. Edward M. Fisher & Ronald E. Shaffer (2014) Considerations for Recommending Extended Use and Limited Reuse of Filtering Facepiece Respirators in Health Care Settings, Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 11:8, D115-D128, DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2014.902954
24. Bergman, M.S., D.J. Viscusi, Z. Zhuang, A.J. Palmiero, J.B. Powell, and R.E. Shaffer: Impact of multiple consecutive donnings on filtering facepiece respirator fit. American Journal of Infection Control 2012: 40(4): 375-380.
25. Terrence J. Stobbe, Robert A Daroza, Margo A Watkins. Facial Hair and Respirator Fit: A Review of the Literature. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 1988; 49 (4)
26. Evan L. Floyd, J. Blake Henry, David L. Johnson. Influence of facial hair length, coarseness, and areal density on seal leakage of a tight-fitting half-face respirator. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene 2018; 15:4:334-340
27. Advice on the use of masks in the community, during home care, and in healthcare settings in the context of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. https://www.who.int/publications-detail/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-th...(2019-ncov)-outbreak (accessed 18 Apr 2020).
28. Desai AN, Aronoff DM. Masks and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). JAMA 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.6437
29. Antonio I Lazzarino Steptoe A, Hamer M, Michie S. Face masks for the public during the covid-19 crisis. BMJ 2020; 369 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1435
30. Pearl Shuang, Ye Tong, Anita Sugam Kale, Kailyn Ng, et al. Respiratory consequences of N95-type mask usage in pregnant healthcare workers—a controlled clinical study. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2015; 4:48.
31. Chen Y, Zhou Z, Min W. Mitochondria, Oxidative Stress, and Innate Immunity. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1487
Published
2021-03-10
How to Cite
1.
Ahmad Z, Zuber N. Masks and respirators to prevent SARS CoV-2 transmission: types, protection, when to use and spotting the fake. jms [Internet]. 2021Mar.10 [cited 2026Oct.3];24(1):3-11. Available from: https://old.jmsskims.org/index.php/jms/article/view/798
Section
Review Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
