sars2infoJul 4, 2024
Dr. Lucky Tran 

New study by Linsey Marr:

“We aerosolized SARS-CoV-2 & pulled it through masks. After 1hr we were able to recover infectious virus from fabric masks but not an N95 or surgical mask. When we pressed artificial skin against the masks we found viral RNA but no infectious virus on the skin.” #MasksWork

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c01581#

Jul 4, 2024 at 5:35amWeb
Show threadnullagentJul 4, 2024

@luckytran

Very cool study, I've wondered about this.

Aside, omfg look at the COVID nebulizer. A lil nightmare machine, for science 😳 🧪

#covid #science #MasksWork

Show threadRozzychanJul 4, 2024

@nullagent @luckytran

Looks like the oxygen destroyer in Godzilla

Show threadAral BalkanJul 4, 2024
@luckytran @hjhornbeck But that’s just science… What does god say about all this, eh?
Show threadgkrnoursJul 4, 2024
@aral @luckytran @hjhornbeck god made science and science say mask work. Tada
Show threadAral BalkanJul 4, 2024
@gkrnours @luckytran @hjhornbeck You know, I really did think I could get away with not having a sarcasm tag on the post. Alas… :)
Show threadgkrnoursJul 4, 2024

@aral @luckytran @hjhornbeck I was 80% it was sarcasm and I kinda leaned in it.

like, I don't know if there is a god or not. If there is, I think it a funny story. You have a believer in a flood. They have water up to their ankle, cop come in, offer to evacuate them, no god will help them. They are on their roof, ship come in, offer to help them, no god will help them. They are drowing, helicopter come in. No god will help them. They see god in heaven, get angry. God say I helped 3 times.

Show threadhjhornbeckJul 4, 2024
@aral It's all going according to Loki's plan, I reckon.  
Show threadyour auntifa liza 🇵🇷 🦛 🦦Jul 4, 2024

QUESTION @luckytran so even though they found traces of the virus on the cloth masks, it was remnants of the RNA that were not infectious, correct?

am asking because N95s are not sustainable. they are a proprietary technology that doesn't use weaving for creating the plasticized paper used for the masks.

so the issue with the N95 is that they successfully leave people without a trace of the virus, as opposed to fabrics?

we need testing of fabrics based on their fibre composition and GSM.

Show threadJen, MPH Jul 4, 2024
@blogdiva @luckytran from the study: “After 1 h at 28 °C and 80% RH, SARS-CoV-2 infectivity was not detectable on an N95 and surgical mask, was reduced by 0.7 log10 on a nylon/spandex mask, and was unchanged on a polyester mask and two different cotton masks when recovered by elution in a buffer. SARS-CoV-2 RNA remained stable for 1 h on all masks.”
Show threadTransitBikerJul 4, 2024
@tweetsjen @blogdiva @luckytran N95 masks and their relatives have an electrostatic charge which pull the viruses apart upon impacting the fibers. This same electrostatic charge does not exist on these other fabrics for multiple reasons.
Show threadyour auntifa liza 🇵🇷 🦛 🦦Jul 4, 2024

@TransitBiker @tweetsjen @luckytran the N95 textile is not a fabric, it's plasticized fibres fused into a paper. so what's creating the charge, the fusing? the fibre? the little filaments on the surface?

these studies are great in proving masks work but none have yet looked at fabric masks from the POV of the fibre composition, weaving, grams per square meter (density) and actual weight of the fabric.

DENIM is cotton and so is gauze. most satins are plastics. silk can be antiseptic, etc.

Show threadKathmanduJul 4, 2024
@blogdiva
N95 masks aren't plasticized, they're PLASTIC: polypropylene plastic, extruded into ultra-thin threads forming a mass, like felt. I don't know how they get the charge, but it's destroyed by the touch of water.
Silk can carry a little electrostatic charge, but nowhere near as much as the polypropylene does.
I suspect we'd do better to work on recycling than on trying to duplicate plastic with a natural fiber.
@TransitBiker @tweetsjen @luckytran
Show threadRaven OnthillJul 4, 2024

@Kathmandu @blogdiva @TransitBiker @tweetsjen @luckytran I found a paper discussing the recharging of n95 masks. By the way, technically, the charged polypropylene layer is what is called "non-woven fabric."

https://pubs.aip.org/aip/pof/article/32/9/093304/1060745/Recharging-and-rejuvenation-of-decontaminated-N95

Recharging and rejuvenation of decontaminated N95 masks

N95 respirators comprise a critical part of the personal protective equipment used by frontline health-care workers and are typically meant for one-time usage.

AIP Publishing
Show threadKathmanduJul 4, 2024
@ravenonthill
Thank you, that looks interesting!
Show threadjmeleskyJul 4, 2024

@blogdiva @luckytran That’s a great question and I don’t think this study will have an answer–unless I’m reading it wrong, it’s looking at the external surface of the masks, not the transmission through them. I suspect this study is specifically addressing the “masks are dangerous because they collect viruses and then you touch your mask and get sick” idea, which was one of the … more unusual objections to masking.

I agree with you on n95 sustainability, though, but I haven’t seen any studies that actually look at commonly-available textiles comparatively. There are also some cleaning products (I’m thinking Swiffers and their competitors, and dryer sheets) that use similar electrostatic action to work, but afaik, they’re also using petrochemical fabrics. I wish I knew my physics better so I could give better insight here.

Show threadKathmanduJul 4, 2024

@jmelesky @blogdiva @luckytran
SmartAirBioFilters had a good review early on (as in I think I read it within one month of the US shutdowns), with measurements of filtering and breathability for several types of cloth and some other household materials.

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-masks-virus/

What Are the Best Materials and Fabric for Making DIY Masks? – Smart Air

Show threadyour auntifa liza 🇵🇷 🦛 🦦Jul 4, 2024
@Kathmandu @jmelesky @luckytran will check it out. thanks!
Show threadjmeleskyJul 26, 2024

@blogdiva @luckytran This just came up in my feed and it seems relevant to this thread: https://shopvida.com/pages/sustainability-disposable-mask-recycling-program?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2vdNzul07lgoW48mjLHUEBUHQB9B3_shh2lLzd-ataESNqwIH4XuJi0w8_aem_JFBD1bHRXxDtv74PFSeF8g

It’s not using sustainable materials, but recycling is still a step towards sustainability that seems worthwhile.

VIDA | High Protection KN95, KF94, Reusable Masks & More

High Protection KN95, KF94, Reusable Masks & More

Show threadDavid FetterJul 4, 2024

@luckytran so yes, N95s work better if you happen to need to protect your individual self from random-ass people who are not masking.

HOWEVER

When everybody masks, no matter how crappily, there's no more infection happening at all.

This is the problem with the fucked-up, repulsive ideology of individualism. When masks, no matter how unofficial, no matter how cheap, are on EVERYBODY's face*, we end transmission, period, full stop. It's at that point where we can see about eradicating this thing, not just hoping a rich and lucky few can put up expensive walls so they can dodge it while others die.

*There are a few of our disabled comrades who can't do this, and they're the only exception we should permit.