Wearing a bandana or legging may be worse than not wearing a mask, a study reveals

As the number of new coronavirus cases continues to rise across the country, the recurring advice from health authorities continues to be to wear a mask, with even one group of experts warning that we should wear them for at least a year .

But as masks have become more common in our new normal, so have questions about their effectiveness, and now a study from Duke University has revealed that wearing a popular type of mask may be worse than do not use mouth covers.

Research published in Science Magazine found that fashion alternatives such as leggings, a covering made of thin, stretchy material that covers the neck and lower part of the face, may be ineffective in slowing the spread of COVID-19. 19.

Thus, the bandanas, which are breathable and lightweight and were made of a polyester spandex material, ranked worse than the no-mask control group, according to the analysis.

According to the publication, the researchers tested 14 masks and coverings, using a tool that allowed experts to track the individual particles released from a person's mouth when uttering the phrase "Stay healthy, people."

This sentence was repeated while participants wore different models of masks, ranging from surgical-grade N95 respirators to bandanas, and no masks for comparison. Each of them was tested 10 times.

In the video of the study, created and shared by the specialists, Martin Fischer, a research associate professor in the departments of chemistry and physics at Duke University, warned that these alternatives can actually be "counterproductive" since the The porous fabric from which they are made appears to break larger particles into smaller ones, which are more likely to remain airborne.

Dr. Scott Segal, a professor at Wake Forest School of Medicine, agrees with Fischer, noting that research he conducted himself showed similar results.

"We can all agree that leggings probably aren't your best option. They're very convincing, easy to pull up and down, but probably not the best face covering," she told Today.

However, leggings and bandanas were not the only masks tested for effectiveness, as research also showed that bandana masks, knitted face masks and N95 masks with vent valves were also ineffective.

"Even a folded bandana is a poor filter. It's a very open weave and thin material, and they're considerably less effective even against large particles. They don't seem to work very well," Segal said.

@Pabu22 @DomHynes That's actually a good mic for your level, and tbh that's normal.All good sound guys sound proof… https://t.co/n7CdObAzsU

— Michael Carmody Fri Apr 10 06:45:40 +0000 2020

In light of this, several sportswear companies that make neck gaiters have made it clear that they are not designed for medical use.

For example, in April, the Buff company, known for its multifunctional headwear and neckwear, issued a public statement noting that its products are not scientifically proven by the CDC and the World Health Organization as a way to effective protection during the pandemic.

"The performance head and neck accessories are not intended to be used as medical-grade face masks or as replacements for N95 respirators as effective measures to prevent disease or the spread of the virus," it clarified.

While Chris Bernat, co-founder of a South Carolina-based bandana-making company, questioned the results of the Duke University finding, saying the institution did not provide specific details about the material of the accessory it was tested.

In the meantime, Segal advises that for most cloth masks, people could try using a material known as 'cotton quilting,' or cotton with an inner layer of flannel, since it's thicker and particles They don't penetrate as easily.

"We believe the best performing masks have a tighter weave. That's not just the thread count, it also depends on the thickness of the fibers. Higher quality cottons made from thicker threads leave fewer gaps between the fibers of the cloth", he concluded.

See also:

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