Face Masks Proven Effective: Reduce Flow of Particles When Breathing, Talking, Coughing Even With Side Gaps

Wearing face masks when in public is one of the health protocols implemented by governments and health agencies around the world. Studies show that face masks, when combined with other preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, frequent hand washing, and physical distancing, could help slow the transmission of the virus.

There are many types of face masks available which has various rates of efficacy in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

For instance, tight seal N-95 respirators are considered high-efficiency face masks. On the other hand, surgical masks and their cloth versions have lesser efficiency than N-95 masks because of the small gaps around the sides.

But a new study reported in Futurity confirms that despite the gaps on the side, they are still effective in preventing airborne particles -- produced from breathing, talking, coughing, and sneezing -- from spreading.

Face Masks are Effective Even with Gaps

The study, "Expiratory aerosol particle escape from surgical masks due to imperfect sealing," was conducted by researchers at the University of California Davis and published in Scientific Reports. The study confirms the efficacy of surgical masks and their cloth versions in preventing the spread of viruses.

Researchers looked at the expired particles flowing from the gaps by instructing study participants to sit in front of a device that counts airborne particles. Participants were asked to read aloud and cough with surgical masks on.

The researchers found that wearing face masks while talking can reduce particles from directly spreading by an average of 93%. It prevents the spread of airborne particles by 91% from the bottom, 85% from the sides, and 47% from the top.

Using simulations that model face masks, which have gaps on the sides, the researchers calculated that the overall efficiency percentage of surgical masks that most people use was about 70% for talking and 90% for coughing, Science Daily reported.

The study's corresponding author, Christopher Cappa, a UC Davis professor of civil and environmental engineering, said that face masks provide a substantial reduction of expiratory particle emissions and therefore reduces the probability of disease transmission.

Cappa added that face masks redirect the flow of airborne particles from the talker to anybody in front of them.

How to Make Face Masks More Protective

News outlet Today posted videos of two dentists explaining how to make regular surgical asks more protective and better fit to reduce gaps and increase its efficiency.

Here are a few tips from Dr. Olivia Cui of Calgary, Alberta, and Dr. Rabeeh Bahrampourian of New South Wales, Australia, on how to improve the fit of surgical masks:

• Wash hands before handling surgical masks to avoid contamination.
• Fold the surgical mask in half, lengthwise, making sure that the top and bottom are edge-to-edge.
• Make a knot at each ear loop as close as possible to the corners of the mask.
• Adjust the flexible nose bridge of the mask to the nose.
• Fold in the corners and try the better-fitting face mask on. Adjust as needed.

A recent study by researchers from UC Davis proves that even surgical masks which have gaps offer sufficient protection from the virus and slows COVID-19 transmission.

Check out more news and information on COVID-19 and Face Masks on Science Times.