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Wearing a mask drastically reduces saliva droplet propagation

26 August 2021

Short of Breath

They are a simple symbol of the pandemic that has overwhelmed the world. Face masks, unavoidable from supermarkets to subways, have become everyday essentials. But they remain controversial to some, and as regulations tighten and relax in different countries, their importance will continue to be questioned. Improved understanding of their effectiveness helps individuals and governments to make decisions, so a new study used computer simulations with updated parameters to realistically estimate the distance water droplets capable of carrying virus particles travel during normal human breathing without (start of the video) and with (end of video) a mask. The simulations suggest that without a mask, saliva droplets travel up to 2.2 metres in 90 seconds, compared to just 0.72 metres in 2 minutes from a masked person. The study also assessed the complex vortex rings and aerodynamics behind the breath-powered propulsion, helping further unmask the mystery of mask effectiveness.

Written by Anthony Lewis

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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