Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Evaluation of Filtration Efficiency and Inhalation Airflow Resistance of Uncertified Masks in Asian Countries

  • Sohyun Kang (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Soomin Kim (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Ji Soo Kim (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Gayoung Lee (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Annisa Utami Rauf (Department of Health Behavior, Environment and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada) ;
  • Kraichat Tantrakarnapa (Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University) ;
  • Shih-Chun Candice Lung (Research Center for Environmental Changes, Academia Sinica) ;
  • Kiyoung Lee (Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2024.07.23
  • Accepted : 2024.08.14
  • Published : 2024.08.31
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Abstract

Background: During the coronavirus pandemic, masks played a critical role in preventing respiratory infections. While the performance of masks such as KF-certified masks and N95 masks was evaluated and managed by the authorities, the performance of common masks was not. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of uncertified masks in four Asian countries against certification standards (Korean KF80, KF94, and US N95). Methods: Thirty uncertified mask products from Indonesia, 20 from South Korea, 26 from Taiwan, and 30 from Thailand were purchased to perform performance evaluations. The uncertified masks included disposable dental masks, cloth masks, and children's masks. Filtration efficiency and inhalation airflow resistance tests were conducted according to Korean KF80, KF94, and US N95 protocols. Results: None of the 106 identified masks complied with the KF94 standard. A few complied with the KF80 standard: four from Indonesia, four from South Korea, 13 from Taiwan, and 16 from Thailand. Some of the masks met the N95 standard: one from Indonesia, three from South Korea, two from Taiwan, and one from Thailand. Conclusions: Since many uncertified masks did not comply with performance standards, wearing them might not have provided sufficient protection. Performance of uncertified masks could provide critical information for next pandemic management.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study is supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea (BK21 FOUR 5199990214126).

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