Journal
IEEE OPEN JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY
Volume 2, Issue -, Pages 26-35Publisher
IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC
DOI: 10.1109/OJEMB.2021.3053215
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic; face coverings; face masks; aerosol dispersal; aerosol generating procedures
Categories
Funding
- European Research Council [759546]
- UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council [EP/P020593/1, EP/L016680/1, BB/P013740/1]
- UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Higher Education Commission of Pakistan
- European Research Council (ERC) [759546] Funding Source: European Research Council (ERC)
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Face covers can reduce the risk of virus transmission, but the effectiveness varies depending on the type of mask, with some masks potentially presenting leakage hazards.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is primarily transmitted through virus-laden fluid particles ejected from the mouth of infected people. Face covers can mitigate the risk of virus transmission but their outward effectiveness is not fully ascertained. Objective: by using a background oriented schlieren technique, we aim to investigate the air flow ejected by a person while quietly and heavily breathing, while coughing, and with different face covers. Results: we found that all face covers without an outlet valve reduce the front flow through by at least 63% and perhaps as high as 86% if the unfiltered cough jet distance was resolved to the anticipated maximum distance of 2-3 m. However, surgical and handmade masks, and face shields, generate significant leakage jets that may present major hazards. Conclusions: the effectiveness of the masks should mostly be considered based on the generation of secondary jets rather than on the ability to mitigate the front throughflow.
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