Measuring the quantity of harmful volatile organic compounds inhaled through masks
An increase in the concentration of environmental particulate matter and the spread of the COVID-19 virus have dramatically increased our time spent wearing masks. If harmful chemicals are released from these masks, there may be harmful effects on human health. In this study, the concentration of vo...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323004190 |
| _version_ | 1797840496943431680 |
|---|---|
| author | Hajoo Ryu Yong-Hyun Kim |
| author_facet | Hajoo Ryu Yong-Hyun Kim |
| author_sort | Hajoo Ryu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An increase in the concentration of environmental particulate matter and the spread of the COVID-19 virus have dramatically increased our time spent wearing masks. If harmful chemicals are released from these masks, there may be harmful effects on human health. In this study, the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from some commonly used masks was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively under diverse conditions (including different mask material types, time between opening the product and wearing, and mask temperature). In KF94 masks, 1-methoxy-2-propanol (221 ± 356 µg m–3), N,N-dimethylacetamide (601 ± 450 µg m–3), n-hexane (268 ± 349 µg m–3), and 2-butanone (160 ± 244 µg m–3) were detected at concentrations 22.9–147 times higher than those found in masks made from other materials, such as cotton and other functional fabrics. In addition, in KF94 masks, the total VOC (TVOC) released amounted to 3730 ± 1331 µg m–3, about 14 times more than that released by the cotton masks (267.5 ± 51.6 µg m–3). In some KF94 masks, TVOC concentration reached over 4000 µg m–3, posing a risk to human health (based on indoor air quality guidelines established by the German Environment Agency). Notably, 30 min after KF94 masks were removed from their packaging, TVOC concentrations decreased by about 80% from their initial levels to 724 ± 5.86 µg m–3; furthermore, 6 h after removal, TVOC concentrations were found to be less than 200 µg m–3. When the temperature of the KF94 masks was raised to 40 oC, TVOC concentrations increased by 119–299%. Since the types and concentrations of VOCs that will be inhaled by mask wearers vary depending on the mask use conditions, it is necessary to comply with safe mask wearing conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T16:16:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bbb1efbb725a4caa82a892e28bebe625 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T16:16:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbb1efbb725a4caa82a892e28bebe6252023-04-24T04:37:44ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132023-05-01256114915Measuring the quantity of harmful volatile organic compounds inhaled through masksHajoo Ryu0Yong-Hyun Kim1Department of Environment and Energy, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin, Jeonju, Jeollabukdo 54896, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Environment and Energy, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin, Jeonju, Jeollabukdo 54896, Republic of Korea; School of Civil, Environmental, Resources and Energy Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin, Jeonju, Jeollabukdo 54896, Republic of Korea; Soil Environment Research Center, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin, Jeonju, Jeollabukdo 54896, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author at: Department of Environment and Energy, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin, Jeonju, Jeollabukdo 54896, Republic of Korea.An increase in the concentration of environmental particulate matter and the spread of the COVID-19 virus have dramatically increased our time spent wearing masks. If harmful chemicals are released from these masks, there may be harmful effects on human health. In this study, the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from some commonly used masks was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively under diverse conditions (including different mask material types, time between opening the product and wearing, and mask temperature). In KF94 masks, 1-methoxy-2-propanol (221 ± 356 µg m–3), N,N-dimethylacetamide (601 ± 450 µg m–3), n-hexane (268 ± 349 µg m–3), and 2-butanone (160 ± 244 µg m–3) were detected at concentrations 22.9–147 times higher than those found in masks made from other materials, such as cotton and other functional fabrics. In addition, in KF94 masks, the total VOC (TVOC) released amounted to 3730 ± 1331 µg m–3, about 14 times more than that released by the cotton masks (267.5 ± 51.6 µg m–3). In some KF94 masks, TVOC concentration reached over 4000 µg m–3, posing a risk to human health (based on indoor air quality guidelines established by the German Environment Agency). Notably, 30 min after KF94 masks were removed from their packaging, TVOC concentrations decreased by about 80% from their initial levels to 724 ± 5.86 µg m–3; furthermore, 6 h after removal, TVOC concentrations were found to be less than 200 µg m–3. When the temperature of the KF94 masks was raised to 40 oC, TVOC concentrations increased by 119–299%. Since the types and concentrations of VOCs that will be inhaled by mask wearers vary depending on the mask use conditions, it is necessary to comply with safe mask wearing conditions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323004190MaskKF94Total volatile organic compound |
| spellingShingle | Hajoo Ryu Yong-Hyun Kim Measuring the quantity of harmful volatile organic compounds inhaled through masks Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Mask KF94 Total volatile organic compound |
| title | Measuring the quantity of harmful volatile organic compounds inhaled through masks |
| title_full | Measuring the quantity of harmful volatile organic compounds inhaled through masks |
| title_fullStr | Measuring the quantity of harmful volatile organic compounds inhaled through masks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measuring the quantity of harmful volatile organic compounds inhaled through masks |
| title_short | Measuring the quantity of harmful volatile organic compounds inhaled through masks |
| title_sort | measuring the quantity of harmful volatile organic compounds inhaled through masks |
| topic | Mask KF94 Total volatile organic compound |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651323004190 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hajooryu measuringthequantityofharmfulvolatileorganiccompoundsinhaledthroughmasks AT yonghyunkim measuringthequantityofharmfulvolatileorganiccompoundsinhaledthroughmasks |