ArticleAnnals of Saudi medicine
Evaluation of expelled droplets through traditional Islamic face coverings.
Article in Annals of Saudi medicine. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
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Abstract
backgroundExpelled droplet count is an important factor when investigating the efficacy of face coverings since higher droplet counts indicate an increased possibility of disease transmission for airborne viruses such as COVID-19. While there is some published work relating facemask style to expelled droplet count during speech, there is no published data regarding the effectiveness of traditional Islamic face coverings such as the ghutra and niqab commonly worn by men and women in the Arabian Peninsula.
objectivesMeasure the effectiveness of worn traditional Islamic face coverings in reducing expelled droplet count during speech.
designExperimental study
settingBiomedical engineering department at a university in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND
methodsUsing a previously described low-cost method for quantifying expelled droplets, this study compares droplet counts through commonly worn traditional Islamic face coverings and conventional three-ply surgical masks worn during speech. The device records scattered light from droplets (>5 μm diameter) as they pass through a laser light sheet (520 nm), and then video processing yields droplet counts.
main outcome measuresPercent reduction in the number of expelled droplets passing through face coverings during speech compared to no face covering
main outcome measures9-15 recorded samples per face covering (n=3) plus no face covering control (n=1) in three females.
resultsThe average percent reduction for each mask type compared to no mask trial was 76% for the cotton ghutra, 93% for the niqab, and 95% for the surgical mask. The niqab and ghutra had relatively high variability in droplet reduction.
conclusionsTraditional Islamic face coverings block some expelled droplets, but at lower rates than surgical masks. High standard deviations within facemask groups with high variability in fit (i.e., the cotton ghutra) further denote the importance of fit in face covering effectiveness. Some protection from airborne viruses is likely with traditional Islamic face coverings compared to no mask, but the amount of protection depends on the fit of the face covering. LIMITATIONS: Detectable droplets limited to particles greater than 5 μm diameter with forward expulsion direction. CONFLICT OF INTEREST: None.
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