Tag Archive for: mask

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The combination of mask wearing and keeping windows open is best for reducing Covid-19 risk in cars

The combination of mask wearing and keeping windows open is best for reducing Covid19 risk in cars - اهمیت باز بودن پنجره خودرو در این ایام

As the country prepares to live in a post-Covid-19 world and car travel – including taxi and car-sharing services that mix households – returns to normal, new research from the University of Surrey has confirmed that keeping car windows open to draw in fresh air is key to reducing the risk of contracting the virus in vehicle environments – but there are trade-offs.

In a paper published by Environment International, Surrey’s renowned Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) explored what motorists must consider to make sure their in-car environments are as Covid-secure as possible.

The GCARE team used sensors to monitor pollution particles concentration, map how those particles varied during different settings in the vehicle and evaluate exposure dose per km of PM2.5 for three different ventilation settings (open window, air conditioning using fresh air, and air conditioning using air recirculation). The team also used sensors to monitor CO2 emission – a proxy used in the experiment for Covid-19.

The GCARE researchers found that maintaining a continuous intake of fresh air by keeping the windows open – while also wearing a mask — is the best way to guard against the transmission of Covid-19 — but this increases occupants’ exposure to toxic air pollution particles.

Motorists face a dilemma, since guarding against air pollution by keeping windows closed in turn aggravates the risk from Covid-19: the study found that the probability of Covid-19 transmission rate increased by 28.5 per cent when windows are closed and air recirculation is switched on.

For the best chance of remaining safer from both Covid-19 and external air pollution, the GCARE team found that keeping the windows closed — which mitigates air pollution particles — while running air conditioning on ambient mode (drawing in fresh air from outside) to minimize exposure to Covid-19, is the optimal balance.

Release date: 28 August 2021
Source: University of Surrey

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New face mask prototype can detect Covid-19 infection

New face mask prototype can detect Covid19 infection - ماسک کرونا شناس

The sensor technology could also be used to create clothing that detects a variety of pathogens and other threats.

Engineers at MIT and Harvard University have designed a novel face mask that can diagnose the wearer with Covid-19 within about 90 minutes. The masks are embedded with tiny, disposable sensors that can be fitted into other face masks and could also be adapted to detect other viruses.

The sensors are based on freeze-dried cellular machinery that the research team has previously developed for use in paper diagnostics for viruses such as Ebola and Zika. In a new study, the researchers showed that the sensors could be incorporated into not only face masks but also clothing such as lab coats, potentially offering a new way to monitor health care workers’ exposure to a variety of pathogens or other threats.

Release date: 28 Jun 2021
Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology