Conference paper
https://doi.org/10.31306/s.67.2.3
Quantitative assessment of facemask peripheral leakage
Uwe Reischl
orcid.org/0000-0002-0854-3590
; Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
Conrad Colby
; Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, USA
Budimir Mijović
; University of Bihać, Bihać, BiH
*
Ravindra S. Goonetilleke
; Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Peripheral air leakage affects the ability of a facemask to protect a wearer from exposure to airborne contaminants. Leakage occurs when air bypasses a mask’s filter material and enters or exits the mask through gaps between the mask and the face. A wearer creates a negative pres-sure inside the mask during inhalation and a positive pressure during exhalation. These pres-sure differentials draw air in, or push air out of the mask reducing the effectiveness of a face-mask. An air-pressure measurement chamber was developed to simplify mask air leakage as-sessments. Changes in air pressure and airflow were recorded using a differential manometer and a digital thermoanemometer. Differences between mask airflow and airflow through an open configuration (control) determined the airflow deficit driving peripheral leakage. Four facemask types were tested including a surgical mask, a covid mask, a cotton mask and a N95 mask. The data showed leakage similarities among the four mask types tested. The surgical mask exhibited 50% leakage. The covid mask exhibited 67% leakage while the cotton mask exhibited 63%. The N95 mask exhibited a leakage of 72%. The results of this study confirm previous studies that show high levels of peripheral leakage associated with most facemasks currently in use. The assessment method described in this study provides a new and simplified method to determine such leakages.
Keywords
facemasks, peripheral leakage, simplified assessment methodology, public health
Hrčak ID:
333017
URI
Publication date:
1.7.2025.
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