Anyone who has been in a hospital, care facility or busy public space in recent years knows how important face masks have become. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers and patients wore different types of masks every day to protect each other from airborne viruses. But how well do these masks actually block such virus particles? To answer this question, researchers at Radboud University are conducting research within the Dutch project MIST (Mitigation Strategies for Controlling Airborne Infections).
In this study, we are looking at how well different face masks protect against the inhalation of small particles from the air. Instead of real viruses, we are using a safe, fluorescent substance (fluorescein). This substance is often used in medical diagnostics and is safe for use in humans. With fluorescein, we simulate how a virus can spread through the air via small droplets.
During the study, we measure how much of this substance passes through different face masks. We are investigating two masks that are widely used in healthcare: the FFP2 mask and the surgical face mask. The aim of this research is to gain a better understanding of how well these masks work, so that we can protect people even better against airborne infections in the future. Would you like to know more or take part in the research? Please contact us at (maskeronderzoek [at] ru.nl).
