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Zeilinger EL, Brunevskaya N, Wurzer J, Oberleiter S, Fries J, Fuchs A, Herscovici A, Kum L, Masel EK, Pietschnig J. Effectiveness of cloth face masks to prevent viral spread: a meta-analysis. J Public Health (Oxf) 2024; 46:e84-e90. [PMID: 37934964 PMCID: PMC10901268 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdad205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effectiveness of cloth face masks to prevent viral spread has not yet been conclusively established. In this meta-analysis, we evaluate their effectiveness in comparison to standard medical/surgical and N95-typed masks against viral spread. METHODS We identified literature through a systematic search in three databases and meta-analytically synthesized relevant studies by means of random-effects as well as multilevel modelling. RESULTS Twelve studies comprising k = 28 effect sizes (N = 338) were included. Medical/surgical and N95-typed masks outperformed cloth masks, yielding a large effect (g = 1.40). This effect remained robust when data were grouped according to comparisons with medical/surgical masks (g = 1.25) and N95-typed masks (g = 1.29). However, effects were differentiated according to mask fit, indicating reversals of signs when cloth mask effects were compared with ill-fitting medical/surgical and N95-typed masks (gs = -12.50 and - 10.90, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Cloth face masks were found to have significantly poorer filtering performance than medical/surgical masks and N95 masks, but only if non-cloth masks were properly fitted. Our results illustrate the necessity of using well-fitting medical/surgical or N95-typed masks to prevent viral spread, although some allowance should be made in circumstances where higher compliance with cloth mask mandates are expected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth L Zeilinger
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Academy for Ageing Research, Haus der Barmherzigkeit, A-1160 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, A-1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nadine Brunevskaya
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, A-1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jana Wurzer
- Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sandra Oberleiter
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, A-1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jonathan Fries
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, A-1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Amelie Fuchs
- Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alma Herscovici
- Division of Hematology and Hemostaseology, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lea Kum
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva K Masel
- Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Jakob Pietschnig
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, A-1010 Vienna, Austria
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Ali S, Anser MK. How Does Health Uncertainty Impact Greenhouse Gas Emissions in European Union Economies? A Blessing in Disguise. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 17:44. [PMID: 37213715 PMCID: PMC10184972 DOI: 10.1007/s41742-023-00530-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The global outbreak of COVID-19 caused serious threats to public health and economic growth all around the world, but on the other hand, the betterment of the environment took place. How pandemics' health uncertainty will affect environmental quality is a crucial matter to address. The paper investigates the asymmetric association between pandemics-related health uncertainty and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in the top emitter European Union economies (Italy, Germany, France, Poland, Netherlands, Spain, Czech Republic, Belgium, Romania, and Greece). Employing data from 1996 to 2019, a unique approach called 'Quantile-on-Quantile', is adopted to evaluate the influence of various quantiles of the health uncertainty on GHG emissions. According to estimates, health uncertainty enhances environmental quality by minimizing GHG in most of our chosen nations at certain quantiles of data, which makes pandemics a blessing in disguise for environmental quality. Additionally, the estimations indicate that the grades of asymmetry between our variables varies by locality, accentuating the requisite for authorities to give specific consideration while executing health uncertainty and environmental quality policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajid Ali
- School of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Khalid Anser
- Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, The Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan
- Putra Business School, UPM, Seri Kembangan, Malaysia
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Ayodeji OJ, Khyum MMO, Afolabi RT, Smith E, Kendall R, Ramkumar S. Preparation of surface-functionalized electrospun PVA nanowebs for potential remedy for SARS-CoV-2. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 7:100128. [PMID: 37520801 PMCID: PMC9278001 DOI: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2022.100128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Infections with coronaviruses remain a burden that is negatively affecting human life. The use of metal oxides to prevent and control the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has been widely studied. However, the use of metal oxides in masks to enhance the performances of barrier face coverings in trapping and neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 remained unexplored. In the present study, we explore the possibility of developing surface functional PVA/ZnO electrospun nanowebs to be used as a component of multilayer barrier face coverings. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and zinc acetate (ZnA) nanowebs were electrospun as precursor samples. After calcination at 400 degrees centigrade under a controlled atmosphere of nitrogen gas, product nanowebs containing ZnO (PVA/ZnO) were obtained. The presence of ZnO was determined using an attenuated total reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer. This study inspired the possibility of developing surface-functional materials to produce enhanced performance masks against the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olukayode J Ayodeji
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, 79416, United States
| | - Mirza M O Khyum
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, 79416, United States
| | - Racheal T Afolabi
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, 79416, United States
| | - Ernest Smith
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, 79416, United States
| | - Ron Kendall
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, 79416, United States
| | - Seshadri Ramkumar
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, 79416, United States
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