Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

January 14, 2021

Comprehensive Characterization of Protective Face Coverings Made from Household Fabrics

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A comparison of 21 different face coverings made from household materials found that 1000-thread-count cotton had a filtration efficiency of at least 40% for sub-micron aerosols while offering comparable breathing resistance to N95 respirators, providing some level of protection for the wearer. In contrast, most single-layered materials had filtration efficiencies of <20%, offering little protection. Layering materials with the same or different material compositions demonstrated higher filtration efficiencies for larger droplets ranging from 0.5-0.6cm and are likely to be sufficient for control of transmission from a wearer who is infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Guha et al. (Jan 13, 2021). Comprehensive Characterization of Protective Face Coverings Made from Household Fabrics. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244626