Can Disposable Masks Be Worn More Than Once?

Disposable facemasks are a primary tool to prevent the transmission of SARS-COV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, plastic waste generated from their disposal represents a significant environmental problem that can be reduced by maximizing the service life of disposable masks. We evaluated the effect of repeated wearing on the fitted filtration efficiency (FFE) of N95, KF94, KN95, and procedure/surgical masks. The FFEs of masks were compared following extended wearing with and without washing. Results reveal that most disposable facemasks can retain a high level of their baseline FFE after extended wearing, even after 40 h of wearing. Laundering disposable masks degraded FFE in some instances. We conclude that the durability of disposable facemask performance is considerably longer than their intended single use indication, suggesting that reusing disposable masks is a safe means of reducing plastic waste in the environment.

Impact/Purpose

The unprecedented rate of use of disposable facemasks during the COVID-19 pandemic produces significant quantities of plastic waste. This study explores the possibility to reduce the total amount of disposed facemasks through the prolongation of their service life. The results showed that four disposable facemasks, N95, KF94, KN95, and procedure masks, endured the process of wearing and washing, maintaining a high level of fitted filtration efficiency relative to new ones. These results offer an objective basis to support a recommendation for the public to wash and reuse disposable facemasks in order to reduce the environmental burden of plastic waste disposal. 

Citation

Chen, H., J. Samet, H. Tong, A. Abzhanova, A. Rappold, AND S. Prince. Can Disposable Masks Be Worn More Than Once? Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 242:113908, (2022). [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113908]

DOI: Can Disposable Masks Be Worn More Than Once?