Pilot study on the filtration efficiency of non-medical facemasks according to fit

A non-medical facemask is one of the health care products used to prevent harmful substances from entering the human body. In the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, the effect of wearing a facemask has been researched all over the world. However, the comfort based on fit while wearing a facemask in the community setting continues to be an issue. Therefore, we have been studying the fit and comfort of non-medical facemasks in an effort to develop our own design. In this presentation, we report the filtration efficiency (FE) of our prototype facemask based on the patterns with four sizes. The patterns were analysed in an earlier study. The FEs of the facemasks against particles with a particle size of 0.3–5.0 µm, from smallest to largest size, were 45.4%, 95.2%, 98.0%, and 98.3%. The prototype facemask with larger sizes statistically demonstrated a high FE. The FE depended on the area of the facemask and fit against the facial surface. The patterns were useful from the viewpoints of protection against particles.