ArticlePathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2020
Viral Filtration Efficiency of Fabric Masks Compared with Surgical and N95 Masks.
Article in Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland), 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 21 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
21 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 72 citations in OpenAlex.
- A Review of Filtration Performance of Protective Masks.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Pooled it
- Associations Between Wearing Masks and Respiratory Viral Infections: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.Frontiers in public health · 2022Pooled it
- Do We Need Titanium Dioxide (TiOToxics · 2025Review
- A modeling study on SARS-CoV-2 transmissions in primary and middle schools in Illinois.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Potential Impacts of Prolonged Face Mask Use on Temporomandibular Joint Health as Neglected Lifestyle Repercussions of COVID-19 Pandemic-A Narrative Review.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2024Review
- Effect of Face Masking on Transmission of SARS-CoV-2.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2024Article
- Upscaling of Electrospinning Technology and the Application of Functionalized PVDF-HFP@TiOPolymers · 2023Article
- Determining the filtration effectiveness of non-standard respiratory protective devices by an ad-hoc laboratory methodology.Atmospheric environment (Oxford, England : 1994) · 2023Article
- The effect of activity and face masks on exhaled particles in children.Pediatric investigation · 2023Article
- Evaluation of Mask Performances in Filtration and Comfort in Fabric Combinations.Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Assessment of Different Experimental Setups to Determine Viral Filtration Efficiency of Face Masks.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Operative Protocol for Testing the Efficacy of Nasal Filters in Preventing Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- One year of surgical mask testing at the University of Bologna labs: Lessons learned from data analysis.Separation and purification technology · 2022Article
- Wearing time and respiratory volume affect the filtration efficiency of masks against aerosols at different sizes.Environmental technology & innovation · 2022Article
- Speech air flow with and without face masks.Scientific reports · 2022Article
- How long and effective does a mask protect you from an infected person who emits virus-laden particles: By implementing one-dimensional physics-based modeling.Frontiers in public health · 2022Article
- Infection Prevention Mask Consisting of Nanofiber Filter and Habutae Silk Fabrics.Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- Evaluation of Residual Infectivity after SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol Transmission in a Controlled Laboratory Setting.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Airborne transmission of respiratory viruses.Science (New York, N.Y.) · 2021Review
- COVID-19 pandemic management and the rheumatology patient.Best practice & research. Clinical rheumatology · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
In response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, current modeling supports the use of masks in community settings to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. However, concerns have been raised regarding the global shortage of medical grade masks and the limited evidence on the efficacy of fabric masks. This study used a standard mask testing method (ASTM F2101-14) and a model virus (bacteriophage MS2) to test the viral filtration efficiency (VFE) of fabric masks compared with commercially available disposable, surgical, and N95 masks. Five different types of fabric masks were purchased from the ecommerce website Etsy to represent a range of different fabric mask designs and materials currently available. One mask included a pocket for a filter; which was tested without a filter, with a dried baby wipe, and a section of a vacuum cleaner bag. A sixth fabric mask was also made according to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guidelines (Australia). Three masks of each type were tested. This study found that all the fabric masks had a VFE of at least 50% when tested against aerosols with an average size of 6.0 µm (VFE
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.