COVID-19 pandemic: do surgical masks impact respiratory nasal functions?
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Petitjean M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9348318 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
COVID-19 pandemic: do surgical masks impact respiratory nasal functions?
Petitjean Margaux M Béquignon Émilie É Fieux Maxime M Louis Bruno B Zerah Françoise F Coste André A Bartier Sophie S
International forum of allergy & rhinology 20220520 11
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Project description:The COVID-19 pandemic suddenly changed the lifestyle of billions of people. Face masks became indispensable to protect from the contagion providing a significant environmental impact. The aim of this work is to propose possible solutions to decrease masks' impact on the environment. For this reason, different masks (surgical and fabric) were considered, and the CO2 emissions associated with the mask materials production were calculated. Carbon Footprint (CF) for each material composing the masks was evaluated through the database Ces Selector 2019. The software Qgis (version 2.18.20) allows us to elaborate the CO2 emissions maps for each Italian region. Finally, for surgical masks, which are often imported from abroad, the CF related to transport was considered. It results that fabric masks are a sustainable solution to prevent contagion. The total CO2 emission associated with the use of fabric masks from the beginning of the pandemic (March 2020) to December 2021 resulted in about 7 kton compared to 350 kton for surgical masks.
| S-EPMC8949017 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectivesThe coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic increased global demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) and resulted in shortages. The study evaluated the re-use of surgical masks and respirators by analysing their performance and safety before and after reprocessing using the following methods: oven, thermal drying, autoclave, and hydrogen peroxide plasma vapour.MethodsIn total, 45 surgical masks and 69 respirators were decontaminated. Visual integrity, air permeability, burst resistance, pressure differential and particulate filtration efficiency of new and decontaminated surgical masks and respirators were evaluated. In addition, 14 used respirators were analysed after work shifts before and after decontamination using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and viral culturing. Finally, reprocessed respirators were evaluated by users in terms of functionality and comfort.ResultsOven decontamination (75 °C for 45 min) was found to be the simplest decontamination method. Physical and filtration assays indicated that all reprocessing methods were safe after one cycle. Oven decontamination maintained the characteristics of surgical masks and respirators for at least five reprocessing cycles. Viral RNA was detected by RT-PCR in two of the 14 used respirators. Four respirators submitted to viral culture were PCR-negative and culture-negative. Reprocessed respirators used in work shifts were evaluated positively by users, even after three decontamination cycles.ConclusionOven decontamination is a safe method for reprocessing surgical masks and respirators for at least five cycles, and is feasible in the hospital setting.
| S-EPMC7832149 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Primary outcome(s): The incidence of obstructive colorectal cancer
| 2656898 | ecrin-mdr-crc
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC8942707 | biostudies-literature
Project description:There have been many studies on the microplastic pollution, influence and control mechanisms of different plastic products. The potential harm of microplastic pollution to the environment has been confirmed. With the outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 in the world, disposable surgical masks as effective and cheap protective medical equipment have been widely used by the public. Disposable masks have been a new social norm, but they must have a sense of environmental responsibilities. The random disposal of masks may result in new and greater microplastic pollution, because masks made of polymer materials would release microplastics after entering the environment. Current results showed that masks are a potential and easily overlooked source of environmental microplastics. The release amount of microplastics in the static water by one mask was 360 items, and with the increase of vibration rate, the release amount also increased. The addition of organic solvents (detergent and alcohol) in water would increase the release of microplastics from masks. When the mask became fragments, the ability to release microplastic fibers into the environment was greatly improved due to the increase of exposure area. After two months of natural weathering, the masks become very fragile pieces and microplastics. A fully weathered mask could release several billions of microplastic fibers into the aquatic environment once these fragile fragments enter the water without reservation. The rapid growth of mask production and consumption and improper disposable is worrying. It is urgent to understand the potential environmental risks and significance of masks.
| S-EPMC8164515 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC7929295 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC9494385 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pelvic trauma surgery in Poland. This study comprises 132 consecutive patients admitted for pelvic fracture surgery from 2019 to 2022, separating them into 2 groups; pre-COVID (1 year before the outbreak of pandemic - 2019) and COVID period (in Poland 2020-2022). The data was collected respectively in a single trauma center. Demographic data was collected, additionally, the type of fracture according to Young-Burgess and Letournel-Judet classification system, date of the injury and surgery, the surgical approach and stabilization methods, mechanism of trauma, concomitant injuries, body mass index (BMI), blood transfusions, number of days spent in the hospital, and surgery duration. Patients during the pandemic had statistically significantly shorter duration of hospital stay, and lesser amount of blood units transfused comparing to the non- pandemic group, 4.50 days vs. 6.90 days (p < 0.001) and 1.20 units vs. 1.40 units (p = 0.0401) respectively. Patients with acetabulum fractures required more blood transfusion units (p < 0.0001), comparing to those with pelvic ring injuries. Moreover, the acetabulum fractures were more time demanding comparing to pelvic ring injury (151 min vs. 128 min, respectively) (p < 0.0001) as well as length of hospital stay was longer (5.18 days, 3.85 days (respectively) (p = 0.042). During the COVID-19 period, comparing patients with acetabulum fractures to those with pelvic ring injuries, they required more blood transfusion units, the acetabulum fractures were more time demanding with increased days of hospitalization. Additionally, patients during the COVID-19 period remained hospitalized for a shorter period of time and received lesser amount of blood transfusions with pelvic ring injuries.
| S-EPMC11845521 | biostudies-literature
Project description:During the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, face masks have been the single most important protective equipment against the threat of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While masks are worn, both the nose and the mouth of the user come in contact with the mask material, and as the latter mediates the inhaled air and may interfere with the swallowed saliva, it is of paramount importance to assure that the mask is free of toxic substances. As there are currently no studies on the total amount of trace elements in masks, the present study fills the void and investigates 24 surgical and KN95 face masks. Specifically, mask samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the total concentrations of trace elements as well as to assess the possibility that any detected of the elements present could transfer into the human body, based on saliva leaching and breathing experiments. Accordingly, it is reported herein that although most masks analyzed in this study contain trace elements below their corresponding detection limits, a few masks did contain detectable levels of trace elements. In particular, the maximum values that were determined in certain analyzed samples were: Pb (13.33 μg g-1), Cu (410 μg g-1), Zn (56.80 μg g-1), and Sb (90.18 μg g-1). Finally, in the masks that Pb was present, it easily leached out (58% transfer during a 6-h exposure) during the saliva simulation experiments.
| S-EPMC8611820 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC7934693 | biostudies-literature