ArticleInfection & chemotherapy2020
Do Face Masks become Worthless after Only One Use in the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Article in Infection & chemotherapy, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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
6 citing papers in PubMed, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Impact of community masking on COVID-19: A cluster-randomized trial in Bangladesh.Science (New York, N.Y.) · 2022Trial
- Factors influencing bacterial viability on face masks and bactericidal effect of disinfection methods.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- [Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the course of geriatric trauma patients with proximal femoral fractures].Unfallchirurgie (Heidelberg, Germany) · 2024Article
- Face Mask Wastes as Cementitious Materials: A Possible Solution to a Big Concern.Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Delignification Effects on Indonesian Momala (Materials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2021Article
- Facemasks: A Looming Microplastic Crisis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDue to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), world-wide face mask use is increasing exponentially. These face masks are difficult to recycle, and their accumulation contributes to enormous environmental threats. In this study, we hypothesize that the face mask can be reused as long as it retains its original structure, which will slow the environmental impacts. MATERIALS AND
methodsWe selected common disposable surgical masks for this study and classified test conditions based on wear time and reuse method. After wearing the mask for 10 hours, we let it dry naturally in the shade for 14 hours. The specimens were measured by scanning electron microscope and capillary flow porometer.
resultsThe pore structure of the mask did not change when worn 4 times for 10 hours each time, and there was no significant pore structure change when impregnated with ethyl alcohol (purity 95%), treated with UV or steam, or run through a washing machine.
conclusionThe pore structure of the surgical mask was not changed significantly after 40 hours of use. Surgical mask pore structure did not change significantly after treatment with ethyl alcohol, UV light, steam, or a washing machine.
Indexed as
Identifiers
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.