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Volume 18
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10.3390/ijerph18084124
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Article

Preliminary Evaluation of Filtration Efficiency and Differential Pressure ASTM F3502 Testing Methods of Non-Medical Masks Using a Face Filtration Mount

by
Charles Freeman
1,*,
Reuben Burch
2,
Lesley Strawderman
2,
Catherine Black
1,
David Saucier
2,
Jaime Rickert
3,
John Wilson
3,
Sarah Ashley Bealor
1,
Madison Ratledge
1,
Sydney Fava
1,
Brian Smith
2,
Charlie Waggoner
3,
Courtney Taylor
4,
Abigail Nichols
1,
Gregory Skaggs
5 and
Thomas Callans
6
1
School of Human Sciences, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
2
Industrial and Systems Engineering, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
3
Institute Clean Energy and Technology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
4
Workforce and Economic Development, Golden Triangle Campus, East Mississippi Community College, Mayhew, MS 39753, USA
5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa, FL 33607, USA
6
Department of Athletics, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 4124; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084124
Submission received: 11 March 2021 / Revised: 8 April 2021 / Accepted: 9 April 2021 / Published: 13 April 2021
(This article belongs to the Section Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion)
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Abstract

Research surrounding the mandated use of non-medical fabric masks is inconsistent and often confusing when compared to the standard N95. A recently published standard from ASTM International and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention attempts to normalize evaluation procedures. The purpose of this study is to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the new methods for testing filtration efficiency of masks outlined by ASTM International F3502, where results can be directly compared to standards outlined for non-medical fabric masks. Eleven consumer non-medical fabric masks were tested for filtration efficiency and airflow resistance using a face filtration mount in accordance with the newly released ASTM International standard for facial barriers. The mean FE% (SD) ranged from 0.46% (0.44) to 11.80% (2.76) with the 3-layer athletic mesh having the highest performance and the highest deviations. All the masks tested following the procedure failed to meet to minimum FE of 20%; however all masks performed below the minimum upper limits for airflow resistance. Using a non-medical fabric masks as the sole mitigation strategy may not be as effective, as previously reported. With efforts to standardize and regulate the non-medical fabric mask market, this study demonstrates a variety of currently available consumer mask products do not meet the minimum standards nor are these remotely close to the standards of surgical or N95 masks.
Keywords: filtration efficiency; fabric masks; COVID-19; textiles filtration efficiency; fabric masks; COVID-19; textiles

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Freeman, C.; Burch, R.; Strawderman, L.; Black, C.; Saucier, D.; Rickert, J.; Wilson, J.; Bealor, S.A.; Ratledge, M.; Fava, S.; et al. Preliminary Evaluation of Filtration Efficiency and Differential Pressure ASTM F3502 Testing Methods of Non-Medical Masks Using a Face Filtration Mount. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 4124. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084124

AMA Style

Freeman C, Burch R, Strawderman L, Black C, Saucier D, Rickert J, Wilson J, Bealor SA, Ratledge M, Fava S, et al. Preliminary Evaluation of Filtration Efficiency and Differential Pressure ASTM F3502 Testing Methods of Non-Medical Masks Using a Face Filtration Mount. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(8):4124. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084124

Chicago/Turabian Style

Freeman, Charles, Reuben Burch, Lesley Strawderman, Catherine Black, David Saucier, Jaime Rickert, John Wilson, Sarah Ashley Bealor, Madison Ratledge, Sydney Fava, and et al. 2021. "Preliminary Evaluation of Filtration Efficiency and Differential Pressure ASTM F3502 Testing Methods of Non-Medical Masks Using a Face Filtration Mount" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 8: 4124. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084124

APA Style

Freeman, C., Burch, R., Strawderman, L., Black, C., Saucier, D., Rickert, J., Wilson, J., Bealor, S. A., Ratledge, M., Fava, S., Smith, B., Waggoner, C., Taylor, C., Nichols, A., Skaggs, G., & Callans, T. (2021). Preliminary Evaluation of Filtration Efficiency and Differential Pressure ASTM F3502 Testing Methods of Non-Medical Masks Using a Face Filtration Mount. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(8), 4124. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18084124

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