ArticleThe World Allergy Organization journal2020
A new form of irritant rhinitis to filtering facepiece particle (FFP) masks (FFP2/N95/KN95 respirators) during COVID-19 pandemic.
Article in The World Allergy Organization journal, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 39 citations in OpenAlex.
- Systematic review of microplastics and nanoplastics in indoor and outdoor air: identifying a framework and data needs for quantifying human inhalation exposures.Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology · 2024Pooled it
- Physio-metabolic and clinical consequences of wearing face masks-Systematic review with meta-analysis and comprehensive evaluation.Frontiers in public health · 2023Pooled it
- Impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions on inflammatory diseases of the nose.Annals of medicine · 2025Article
- The Effects of N95 Masks on Sinonasal Symptoms and Opinions of Healthcare Workers in Singapore.Cureus · 2025Article
- Thermal imaging and deep learning-based fit-checking for respiratory protection.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Does Prolonged FFP2 Mask Use Cause Changes in Nasal Cytology? A Pilot Observational Study on Healthcare Workers.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Blepharoconjunctivitis and Otolaryngological Disease Trends in the Context of Mask Wearing during the COVID-19 Pandemic.Clinics and practice · 2022Article
- Examination of the Effects of 4-Hour Nonvalved Filtering Facepiece Respirator Use on Blood Gas Values of Health Care Professionals: A Before and After Study.Journal of emergency nursing · 2022Article
- ENT symptoms of mask-wearing in the coronavirus disease 2019 era.The Journal of laryngology and otology · 2022Article
- Recent advances in facemask devices forTrends in analytical chemistry : TRAC · 2022Review
- Contact dermatitis due to personal protective equipment use and hygiene practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review of case reports.Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) · 2022Review
- Filtering efficiency measurement of respirators by laser-based particle counting method.Measurement : journal of the International Measurement Confederation · 2021Article
- Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of Potential Hazards?International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Review
- SARS-COV-2, can you be over it?The World Allergy Organization journal · 2021Review
- [Use of masks by children to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2].Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde : Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Kinderheilkunde · 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
7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Filtering facepiece particle (FFP) masks are important items of personal protective equipment in fighting COVID-19 pandemic. They shall protect the wearer of the mask from particles, droplets, and aerosols, but they also can prevent the spread of aerosol-transmitted viruses if the wearer becomes infected. Most often, FFP respirators consist of multiple layers of non-woven fabric made from polypropylene. Worldwide, FFP respirators are subject to various regulatory standards that specify physical properties and performance characteristics. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, health authorities have temporarily repealed standards for respirators. We report on 46 patients that presented with rhinitis-like symptoms strongly associated to the use of FFP masks. Some of them were obliged to use FFP masks in their work environment. Nasal endoscopy showed edemata of the nasal mucosa that significantly decreased after a period of non-use of FFP masks. Subjectively reported symptom levels decreased after cessation of FFP use for 3 or more days. The presence of polypropylene fibres isolated from nasal rinsing solution was significantly associated with the use of FFP masks in our patients. Material safety and performance deregulation of FFP masks can pose a health risk. Thus, especially health care professionals and other individuals with occupational need for FFP masks should be aware of possible hazards that come with COVID-19 pandemic protection measures.
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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.