Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Latest:
Science News

What Are the Inhalants in Face Masks?

TruthUSA


Face masks contain and release chemical compounds, and recent research indicates that surgical masks and FFP2s are the primary culprits.

Disposable face masks, such as those recommended by health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic, are constructed from synthetic fibers that may harbor chemical compounds. The extended use of masks made from synthetic fibers has raised concerns about potential health risks associated with inhaling these released compounds.
According to a review published in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety in April 2024, face masks can emit up to 5,390 microplastic particles within a 24-hour period, with surgical masks releasing around 3,152 microfibers in less than an hour.

A group of German and Swiss researchers conducted a thorough review of 24 studies involving 631 surgical, cloth, and N95 masks to assess their composition and the compounds they release. The researchers discovered that 63% of the masks exhibited concerning levels of micro- and nanoplastics.

Furthermore, the study revealed that various substances found in the masks, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), xylene, acrolein, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, lead, cadmium, copper, and titanium dioxide (TiO2), surpassed established safety thresholds for human exposure.

In a recent publication in Nature, researchers identified that all 12 types of face masks analyzed exceeded the acceptable TiO2 exposure levels by inhalation, prompting the call for regulatory standards regarding TiO2 usage due to its potential carcinogenic properties.

The Latest Research

The most recent study in this realm, titled “Comprehensive Risk Assessment of the Inhalation of Plasticizers From the Use of Face Masks,” was recently published in Environment International. This study tested four different face mask types to evaluate the presence and release of 31 types of plasticizers during simulated mask use.

While the overall plasticizer concentration was similar across all four mask types, surgical masks and FFP2s displayed higher plasticizer release rates of approximately 4 percent each.

Related Stories

The average plasticizer concentrations in various mask types from the ONHEALTH study were as follows:

7.27 µg (micrograms)—surgical masks

8.61 µg—reusable masks

11.0 µg—KN-95 masks

13.9 µg—FFP2 masks

Inhalation Simulation Tests

For the investigation into the release of plasticizers by masks, the researchers conducted inhalation experiments using paper-mâché dummy heads to mimic human use conditions. The results indicated that higher temperatures, representing human breathing, led to increased release of plastic additives. The researchers noted that the high-temperature condition posed the worst-case scenario for plastic additive release.

The quantities of compounds released by the masks varied significantly, ranging from 0.1 percent to 95 percent depending on the specific compound and mask type. OPEs and phthalates showed release percentages of 1.0% and 1.2%, respectively.

Surgical masks and FFP2s demonstrated the highest overall release rates at 3.9 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively. Reusable masks had the lowest release rate, averaging 0.6 percent. KN-95 masks showed a release rate of 1.2 percent. One surgical mask exhibited a release rate of 95 percent for the compound acetyl tributyl citrate, a potential endocrine disruptor.

Masks ‘An Additional Exposure Pathway’

While the specific compounds tested in the study remained below established threshold limits, the researchers highlighted that plasticizers are not exclusive to face masks. They are commonly found in various products like toys, food packaging, clothing, cosmetics, cleaning agents, and other daily use items.

Face masks serve as an additional exposure route when combined with prevalent sources such as indoor and outdoor inhalation, dermal absorption, and dietary intake. The comprehensive exposure to plasticizers warrants consideration, particularly for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, and individuals at higher risk.

Plasticizers have been detected in pregnant women’s blood and have been linked to the notable decline in global sperm counts over the past half-century, raising concerns about the negative impact of these chemicals on fertility and the health of future generations.



Source link

You May Also Like

Regular ‘Huff and Puff’ Exercises Reduce Risk of Death by Nearly 20%

TruthUSA

Rare Celestial Event – Supermoon and Lunar Eclipse Illuminate the Night Sky

TruthUSA

Genetics Firm Aims to Bring Mammoths and Other Species Back from Extinction

TruthUSA

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.