Face Mask Fit Hacks: Improving the Fit of KN95 Masks and Surgical Masks with Fit Alteration Techniques
Publication Date
2020Journal Title
PLOS ONE
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Volume
17
Issue
2
Language
en
Type
Article
This Version
VoR
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
O’Kelly, E., Arora, A., Pirog, S., Pearson, C., Ward, J., & Clarkson, J. (2020). Face Mask Fit Hacks: Improving the Fit of KN95 Masks and Surgical Masks with Fit Alteration Techniques. PLOS ONE, 17 (2) https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.28.20221895
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn unprecedented attention to the use of masks and fabric face coverings to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2. The fit of a mask has been identified as one the primary factors in determining the effectiveness of masks. If substantial gaps exist between the mask and the wearers face, air may take the path of least resistance through gaps and avoid filtration, both during inhalation and exhalation. A number of techniques, referred to as fit hacks have emerged to improve the fit of face masks. In this paper we test a variety of fit hacks on surgical masks and KN95 masks to compare their effectiveness. We identify fit hacks which greatly improved the fit of masks, and thus their effectiveness.
Keywords
Research Article, Medicine and health sciences, Biology and life sciences, Physical sciences
Identifiers
pone-d-21-11954
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.28.20221895
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/333569
Rights
Licence:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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