CHASE HARRIS

he/him | age 14 | Greely, ON

Edited by Danlin Zeng

In March 2020, COVID-19 was first detected in Canada. Many health professionals, including my parents who are both dentists, were forced to close their offices for several months. This was mainly due to a lack of masks. After this, I grew interested in how masks work and which ones would be best to keep people safe from airborne viruses like COVID-19. I began researching how to test different masks in order to study how effective they were by using simple items that can be found in many households. I thought that the experiment would be beneficial for the average person.

INTRODUCTION

Viruses like COVID-19 are spread by coughing, sneezing, talking, or respiratory droplets. COVID-19 spreads easily indoors and when someone is in close contact with others. If a person spends more than 15 minutes at a distance less than 6 feet away, they can easily become infected. Infection rates seem to be higher if a person is exercising, singing, or shouting due to the projection of respiratory droplets (CDC, 2022)

Currently, there are four main types of masks that most people have access to, this includes the N95 mask, medical (surgical mask), non-medical mask, and cloth mask. All masks have different filtration rates from virus particles, and fluid resistance and fit differently. N95 masks (also known as respirators) are known to filter 95% of particles (CDC, 2022). They fit very close or tightly to the face. One negative however is that there are a lot of counterfeit ones on the market as they tend to be the most expensive mask. They are designed for health care in certain clinical situations. Medical (surgical) masks are the ones that we commonly see healthcare workers wear, they are tested and rated to indicate how protective they are. They have a special rating called ASTM and they are given levels from 1-3. An ASTM level 3 mask has the highest filtration for surgical masks, they are recommended for healthcare settings (Cardinal Health, 2017). Non-medical masks look just like surgical masks however they are not rated or regulated. Finally, cloth masks have become very popular, at the beginning of the pandemic many people even made their own. People like cloth masks because they are more fashionable and also tend to be more comfortable to wear, it is also less waste, and thus environmentally friendly. These masks can made of any type of fabric material, they are not regulated and not recommended for health care.

PURPOSE

The purpose of my project was to determine which type of mask would perform the best when it was exposed to liquid and to determine which mask would be best at protecting you from breathing in harmful airborne virus particles.

HYPOTHESIS

I predict that the thickest medical mask with the most layers will be better at keeping liquid droplets out and the cloth mask will be the worst. I also predict that the mask with the most layers and thickest material will also be the most resistant to airflow.

MATERIALS

Experiment #1 - Water Resistance Test

water
1 bottle of food dye
smartphone with timerscissors
2 metal banana stands
chip clips to hold ear loops of masks
computer
1 Hanes soft 3-ply 100% cotton cloth masks - 3 layers of fabric
2 x 3-ply disposable ear loop masks ZhuoDun non-medical 3 ply masks
2 x N95-medical mask- 3M Aura 1870+ brand
2 x ASTM-Level 3 Medical mask- Maxill plus brand
Ziploc containers (3)-small rectangular
small plastic cups (1 bag)
1 plastic syringe
2 graduated cylinders (50 ml)
paper towels
scale to weigh things
50 ml graduated cylinders (2)
beaker (1)

Experiments #2 and #3 - Flame Test using a blow dryer at fixed and different distances

matches or lighter
1 12 oz (355 ml) plastic circular locking container (Plastico brand) with lid
Infiniti Pro blow dryer
measuring tape
candle
scissors
computer
ruler
toilet paper tube
2 x 3-ply disposable ear loop masks Zhuodun non-medical 3 ply masks
2 x N95-medical mask- 3M Aura 1870+ brand
2 x ASTM-Level 3 Medical mask- Maxill plus brand
Masking Tape
2 x Hanes soft 3-ply 100% cotton cloth masks - 3 layers of fabric
metal stand to maintain the same height

PROCEDURES

Experiment #1 - Water Resistance Test
1. Set up a camera or smartphone to record the results of the experiment.

2. Select 2 identical masks of one type of mask first.

3. Use scissors to cut through one mask to determine how many layers and how thick the mask is. Record the number of layers.

4. Attach the other mask to the stand with hooks with the “outside” of the mask facing down, make sure the mask is shaped like a bowl and not flat, so the water won’t run off the mask.

5. Measure 25 ml of water in a graduated cylinder, then put two drops of food dye in the water so it is easier to see the leaking. Repeat this step.

6. Place a beaker under the mask to catch any leakage.

7. Pour the water into the bowl-shaped mask immediately after set-up.

8. Check the mask after 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 15 minutes for leakage.

9. Once there is leakage record the time it happened.

10. After each time interval remove the beaker, and pour the liquid into the Ziploc container.

11. Next weigh it on the scale to determine how much has water leaked through the mask, this should show how effective it is.

12. After 15 minutes add an additional 25 ml to see if the mask is any better or worse with leakage.

13. Repeat the procedure for every mask type. Record all the results

Experiment #2 - Flame Test using a blow dryer
1. Cut openings at the top and bottom of the clear plastic circular container. First, cut an opening on the lid which is a square that measures 1.25 inches by 1.25 inches, then attach the paper tube with masking tape to the lid just covering the edges of the squares so air can still flow through.

2. Next cut a hole in the bottom of the container the size of the end of the blow dryer.

3. As a control, blow out the candle with the blow dryer without a mask filter at the lowest setting on cool and record how long it takes with a timer.

4. Use the camera to record the experiment.

5. Use the match to light the candle.

6. Next place the mask inside the container as a filter and screw the lid down tight, and then place the blow dryer in the other hole.

7. Line up the blow dryer with the metal stands to make sure the blow dryer stays at the same height and distance.

8. Next, turn it on for 30 seconds at the lowest setting on cool to see if the candle will blow out. Do 3 trials.

9. Next, record how long it takes to blow the candle, or record if you can’t blow it out at all.

10. Repeat the steps for each mask.

Experiment #3 - Flame Test using a blow dryer at different distances
1. Use the same setup and steps for the Flame test however this time test each mask at different distances.

2. Measure to see if you can blow out the flame at the following distances: 6 feet, 4 feet, 2 feet and then in inches until the flame is blown out.

3. Repeat this procedure for each type of mask.

RESULTS

The water resistance test measuring the amount of water penetration at different times showed the following results. The experiment was done by pouring 25 ml of liquid over the masks and then taking measurements of any signs of water penetration into the beaker. After 15 minutes there was no liquid in the beaker when the N95 mask, medical level 3 mask, and non-medical mask were tested. Most of the liquid penetrated the cloth mask within the first 5-minute interval. After 15 minutes, another 25 ml of liquid was poured over each of the different types of masks used previously to see if the mask weakened over time. The results showed that the N95 mask, the medical (surgical) level 3 mask, and the non-medical mask all resisted any more liquid from penetrating the mask and leaking into the beaker. However, with the cloth mask, the additional 25 ml of liquid passed through the mask easily.

The flame test using a blow dryer showed that after 30 seconds the blow dryer with the N95 filter was unable to blow out the flame. The level 3 medical (surgical) mask also took an average 27 seconds to blow the flame of the candle out in comparison to the non-medical and cloth masks. The non-medical mask took an average of 11 seconds to blow out the flame with each repeated trial. The cloth mask took an average of 3 seconds to blow out the flame of the candle.

The air resistance experiment using different distances showed that the blow dryer has to be very close to the flame in order for the flame to blow out. The next closest mask was the level 3 medical(surgical) mask. The nonmedical mask had to be a little further in distance. The blow dryer was able to blow out the flame from 24 inches with the cloth mask filter compared to the other three masks.

DISCUSSION

The experiment was very successful because it was able to show which masks performed the best against moisture, liquid penetration, and air resistance. The results of the experiment were as predicted. I predicted that the cloth mask would be the least water-resistant and let the most airflow through it. I also predicted that the N95 mask would perform the best and give the best results for water and air resistance. Prior to the experiment, all the masks were cut to see how many layers each mask had, the results showed that the thickest mask with the most layers always performed the best in each experiment.

For the first experiment, each mask was tested for air resistance. To have a consistent amount of airflow I used a blow dryer with a tube to make sure my results were more accurate. I made sure to use the same settings each time. The results showed that the N95 was the most resistant to airflow because I could not blow out the candle at all with the N95 filter. The medical (surgical) ASTM level 3 mask also did very well. The blow dryer was only able to blow the candle once with this mask and after several seconds otherwise, it was able to prevent the candle from being blown out over 30 seconds. The non-medical mask was not very effective and over time the mask got weaker. After the first trial, it took around 11 seconds to blow out the candle but by the third trial, it was down to only 4 seconds. The cloth mask did the worst, as the candle blew out in just a few seconds every time. The results for the cloth mask were surprising as it was so easy to blow out the candle every single time and in just a few seconds without much effort.

Next, I repeated the air resistance test except at different distances to see if there was any effect on the blowing out of the flame. The results were as expected: the cloth mask blew out the candle easily from quite far away (24 inches). The non-medical mask was slightly easier to blow out the candle from a closer distance than the medical mask. Finally, for the N95 mask, you had to be the closest to blow out the candle. The results were surprising as I did not expect the candle to blow out the N95 mask at all.

For the third experiment, each mask was tested for water resistance, it was found that the N95 was the most resistant and absorbed the least amount of liquid. It also did not weaken over time when exposed to liquid. The medical(surgical) mask ASTM level 3 mask also did very well, it was very resistant to water and absorbed a little bit of liquid. It also did not weaken over time. I was surprised that the non-medical mask was so resistant to water, however, it did weaken over time. After 15 minutes I could tell the layers were thinning out. The cloth mask was the worst out of all the masks. The liquid passed easily through the mask within the first five minutes. The mask also got weaker after 15 minutes, because when 25 ml of additional liquid was added the water flowed right through like a flood. After looking at the cloth mask after 15 minutes the fibers appeared to be stretched out, that is probably why the water passed so easily after.

After conducting the experiments, a few things that I would have done differently is to change the amount of liquid used for the water-resistance experiment. I think it could have affected my results if I used more water because the masks may have gotten even weaker leading to more leakage. If I redid the experiment, I would also spray the masks first with water to get them wet and then do the flame test to see if the mask is weaker after it gets wet. The reason I would do this is that I wonder, if when people talk and their masks get wet inside, could their masks also get weaker letting more air pass through? This would also let me know how often I should change my mask, especially at school.

I think one flaw in my experiment occurred during the blow dryer test, when the lid would not stay on tight. The N95 mask is a much thicker material and difficult to use. Occasionally, I had to hold the lid with the mask filter together tightly with my hands which could have resulted in the loss of consistent airflow.

This experiment is important because it shows which types of masks are better at resisting liquid and airflow. Some viruses are passed by droplets and aerosols like COVID-19. Droplets are spread through the air when doing such activities as speaking, coughing, and exercising. If you know which is the best mask to wear to prevent you from inhaling droplets and spreading droplets when you are sick, you can help save lives. Masks not only save your life but they can save other people’s lives as well when you wear them. My experiment is also very important because if you wear the wrong masks you could end up getting sick easily and passing on the virus to your family or immunocompromised people, could end up in the hospital.

From my experiments, I would suggest that you wear a medical mask or N95 mask in order to protect yourself from a virus like COVID-19 which is both airborne and spread by respiratory droplets. If you are in a crowded indoor area, the best mask would be an N95 mask. A negative about N95 masks is that they are difficult to breathe in. When I wore the N95 mask, if I did too much activity, I found it hard to breathe. When I tried to blow out the candle with the N95 mask I even felt a bit dizzy. I also think that healthcare workers should only wear the N95 mask, but if it isn’t available then the medical level 3 ASTM mask should be their second choice.

I do not recommend that people wear cloth masks, especially now that newer variants of COVID-19 have become more contagious. If someone wants to wear a cloth mask, I suggest wearing a second cloth mask on top. I do not recommend people wear a single cloth mask. The experiments showed that the cloth mask is the least water resistance and air resistance and absorbs the most liquid. Another suggestion I have is to wear a non-medical 3-layer mask or a medical plus a cloth mask over it at the same time. I know some people like to wear cloth masks because they are more stylish.

During this time masks have become very important in helping control the spread of certain viruses and diseases, especially right now in the world because of COVID-19. Since we know that COVID-19 is airborne, masks are more important than ever. Fortunately, there are now vaccines that help decrease severe illness and reduce hospitalizations but because of the new super contagious variant named Omicron masks are still very helpful to wear. Wearing the right mask also helps the hospitals from getting overrun with sick people, it’s still best to continue wearing masks until the number of cases decreases in our community.

CONCLUSION

In summary, my results were consistent with my hypothesis because the experiments showed that the N95 was the best mask for water and air resistance. It was the thickest mask with the most layers (5) and a special outer coating. The N95 mask would be the best at protecting you from viruses or diseases that are passed by coughing, sneezing, or respiratory droplets.

My hypothesis was also proven when I found that the cloth masks were not very effective at keeping the air out. I can conclude that my breath would easily pass through cloth masks and spread virus particles. I also found that liquid can pass easily through the cloth mask showing it is not very water resistant. Thus, respiratory droplets would likely pass through the cloth mask more easily. In conclusion, cloth masks would protect people the least from viruses like COVID-19, while the N95 would be the best.

REFERENCES

COVID-19-CDC. (2022, February 22)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html

Types of Masks and Respirators- CDC (2022, January 28)
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.htmld

COVID-1919-Tracker-bing
htps://www.bing.com/covid/local/canada?form=C19ANS

COVID-19 Canada-Government of Canada (2022, June 10)
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-COVID-19.html

Choose the Right Mask. Cardinal Health (2017, June)
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwix4v6Pqab2AhU7kIkEHT_wAeMQFnoECCsQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cardinalhealth.com%2Fcontent%2Fdam%2Fcorp%2Fweb%2Fdocuments%2Fwhitepaper%2FFace%2520Mask%2520Selection%2520Guide.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0oq yi192sgiEzf9nOzljR0

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