Experimental studies of carbon dioxide concentration in the space under the face mask protecting against Covid-19 - Pilot studies

Katarzyna Gładyszewska-Fiedoruk; Tomasz Janusz Teleszewski

doi:10.1007/s40201-022-00816-z

Experimental studies of carbon dioxide concentration in the space under the face mask protecting against Covid-19 - Pilot studies

J Environ Health Sci Eng. 2022 Jul 6;20(2):1111-1119. doi: 10.1007/s40201-022-00816-z. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Authors

Katarzyna Gładyszewska-Fiedoruk¹, Tomasz Janusz Teleszewski²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), 166 Nowoursynowska Street, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
² Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Department of HVAC Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45E, 15-351 Białystok, Poland.

Abstract

Masks are the primary tool used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the current pandemic. The use of masks may result in some discomfort, which may be caused by the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the inner space of the mask. This paper presents tests of carbon dioxide concentration in the inner space of the mask during work at a computer, for various flat and convex masks. Five different masks were used in the tests. Convex masks showed a greater accumulation of carbon dioxide than flat masks. The concentration of carbon dioxide was also higher for masks made of more layers. The dependence of the average values of carbon dioxide concentrations under the masks for selected people depending on the BMI and the type of mask was determined, as well as the measurements of carbon dioxide concentrations without the mask. An increase in carbon dioxide concentration was observed with increasing BMI. The development of effective self-defense tools against the virus, including masks, is essential to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Keywords: Air quality; COVID-19; Carbon dioxide concentration; Face masks; Human health.