EFFECT OF SURGICAL MASK USE ON BREATHING AIR QUALITY AND OXYGEN SATURATION: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL MODEL

This study aimed to investigate the effect of surgical masks (SM), which are widely used in the community in the fight against COVID-19, on breathing air quality and blood oxygen saturation among healthy people. This study included 45 healthy individuals. At rest and indoor conditions: blood oxygen concentrations and heart rates were recorded, while simultaneous oxygen (O-2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), VOC (volatile organic compounds) concentrations, and humidity and temperature were measured both in the mouth-nose area (MNA) in the indoor area before the mask was worn, and in MNA inside the mask (in-mask) after the mask was worn. The mean age of 45 healthy participants was 36.06 with a male to female ratio of 53.3% to 46.7%. When the indoor room air values in MNA without SM were compared with in-mask MNA values;in-mask O-2 saturation was observed to decrease, CO to increase in smokers, and VOC, humidity and temperature to significantly increase in all participants. SM wearing was observed not to significantly alter simultaneously measured peripheral blood O-2 saturation and resting heart rate. The (measured) effect of SM wearing on O-2 saturation and heart rate was found to be very small. Wearing a surgical mask was found not to impair blood O-2 saturation in healthy individuals at rest. Further studies can be recommended to support the results in this study.