Washington-Sana
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder, USA, revealed that reusable “reusable” fabric masks may look bad to wear, but washing and drying them does not reduce their ability to filter viral particles.
The study, published in the specialized journal "Aerosol Research and Air Quality", confirmed that placing a cotton mask over a surgical mask appropriately on a person's face provides more protection than cloth alone.
The study found that cotton cloth masks filter up to 23 percent of the smallest particle size that the virus can transmit through, as the masks filter less by only 9 percent. In comparison, surgical masks filtered between 42-88 percent of fine particles, and the filtration efficiency of cotton masks reached found on top of surgical masks to approximately 40 percent filtration efficiency.
"It's good news, this cotton mask that you've been washing, drying, and reusing is still good, don't throw it away," said study lead author Marina Vance, assistant professor in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering.