Experimental and Computational Analysis of Surgical Mask Effectiveness Against COVID-19 in Indoor Environment
Abstract An experiment coupled with a computational analysis was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of surgical masks, which include KF94 and ASTM Level 1, in an indoor environment. The KF94 mask sample shows the highest filtration efficiency (99.9%) in the analysis. The simulation is consis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230123 |
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| author | Chin Yan Suen Helen Hoi Ling Kwok Yuk Hang Tsui Ka Hei Lui Hong Hang Leung Ka Wo Lam Karen Pik Shuen Hung Joseph Kai Cho Kwan Kin Fai Ho |
| author_facet | Chin Yan Suen Helen Hoi Ling Kwok Yuk Hang Tsui Ka Hei Lui Hong Hang Leung Ka Wo Lam Karen Pik Shuen Hung Joseph Kai Cho Kwan Kin Fai Ho |
| author_sort | Chin Yan Suen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract An experiment coupled with a computational analysis was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of surgical masks, which include KF94 and ASTM Level 1, in an indoor environment. The KF94 mask sample shows the highest filtration efficiency (99.9%) in the analysis. The simulation is consistent with the experimental results as the concentration of sodium chloride (NaCl) droplets is < 4% on average in the room. The ultraviolet-C (UVC) irradiation and dry heating samples are shown to retain the highest filtration efficiencies (> 97%) after 3 disinfection treatment cycles. All methods (boiling, steaming, ethanol treatment, and dry heating) effectively reduce the S. aureus load by 99.99%. The UVC irradiation shows exposure to 450 µW cm−2 for 10 minutes can effectively eliminate all S. aureus on the mask materials. Simulation shows the reduction in overall NaCl and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels is directly proportional to the filtration efficiency and the effectiveness of reused masks is also directly proportional to the filtration efficiency. The proxy indicator (CO2) for aerosol particles demonstrates that very fine respiratory droplets can penetrate the mask after reaching a steady state. The CO2 concentration increase shows that aerosol particles are accumulated under adequate ventilation and further pose the risk of infection. The NaCl droplets (2%) simulation shows that respiratory droplets have infiltrated the mask, but the mask demonstrates a higher ability to block the NaCl droplets and prevent their penetration. The findings suggest a need to revise the existing regulation of the control policy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4e69105ff2a143179e591deab7c4738a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-4e69105ff2a143179e591deab7c4738a2025-02-09T12:22:22ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092023-08-01231111510.4209/aaqr.230123Experimental and Computational Analysis of Surgical Mask Effectiveness Against COVID-19 in Indoor EnvironmentChin Yan Suen0Helen Hoi Ling Kwok1Yuk Hang Tsui2Ka Hei Lui3Hong Hang Leung4Ka Wo Lam5Karen Pik Shuen Hung6Joseph Kai Cho Kwan7Kin Fai Ho8Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyInstitute for the Environment, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Mathematics, The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyDivision of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyDivision of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyDivision of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyDivision of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong KongAbstract An experiment coupled with a computational analysis was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of surgical masks, which include KF94 and ASTM Level 1, in an indoor environment. The KF94 mask sample shows the highest filtration efficiency (99.9%) in the analysis. The simulation is consistent with the experimental results as the concentration of sodium chloride (NaCl) droplets is < 4% on average in the room. The ultraviolet-C (UVC) irradiation and dry heating samples are shown to retain the highest filtration efficiencies (> 97%) after 3 disinfection treatment cycles. All methods (boiling, steaming, ethanol treatment, and dry heating) effectively reduce the S. aureus load by 99.99%. The UVC irradiation shows exposure to 450 µW cm−2 for 10 minutes can effectively eliminate all S. aureus on the mask materials. Simulation shows the reduction in overall NaCl and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels is directly proportional to the filtration efficiency and the effectiveness of reused masks is also directly proportional to the filtration efficiency. The proxy indicator (CO2) for aerosol particles demonstrates that very fine respiratory droplets can penetrate the mask after reaching a steady state. The CO2 concentration increase shows that aerosol particles are accumulated under adequate ventilation and further pose the risk of infection. The NaCl droplets (2%) simulation shows that respiratory droplets have infiltrated the mask, but the mask demonstrates a higher ability to block the NaCl droplets and prevent their penetration. The findings suggest a need to revise the existing regulation of the control policy.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230123Surgical maskDisinfection methodsCOVID-19Computational fluid dynamicsIndoor air quality |
| spellingShingle | Chin Yan Suen Helen Hoi Ling Kwok Yuk Hang Tsui Ka Hei Lui Hong Hang Leung Ka Wo Lam Karen Pik Shuen Hung Joseph Kai Cho Kwan Kin Fai Ho Experimental and Computational Analysis of Surgical Mask Effectiveness Against COVID-19 in Indoor Environment Aerosol and Air Quality Research Surgical mask Disinfection methods COVID-19 Computational fluid dynamics Indoor air quality |
| title | Experimental and Computational Analysis of Surgical Mask Effectiveness Against COVID-19 in Indoor Environment |
| title_full | Experimental and Computational Analysis of Surgical Mask Effectiveness Against COVID-19 in Indoor Environment |
| title_fullStr | Experimental and Computational Analysis of Surgical Mask Effectiveness Against COVID-19 in Indoor Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experimental and Computational Analysis of Surgical Mask Effectiveness Against COVID-19 in Indoor Environment |
| title_short | Experimental and Computational Analysis of Surgical Mask Effectiveness Against COVID-19 in Indoor Environment |
| title_sort | experimental and computational analysis of surgical mask effectiveness against covid 19 in indoor environment |
| topic | Surgical mask Disinfection methods COVID-19 Computational fluid dynamics Indoor air quality |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230123 |
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