Nanofiber-Based Face Masks and Respirators as COVID-19 Protection: A Review

Wearing face masks, use of respirators, social distancing, and practicing personal hygiene are all measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This pandemic has revealed the deficiency of face masks and respirators across the world. Therefore, significant efforts are needed to develop air filtration and purification technologies, as well as innovative, alternative antibacterial and antiviral treatment methods. It has become urgent—in order for humankind to have a sustainable future—to provide a feasible solution to air pollution, particularly to capture fine inhalable particulate matter in the air. In this review, we present, concisely, the air pollutants and adverse health effects correlated with long- and short-term exposure to humans; we provide information about certified face masks and respirators, their compositions, filtration mechanisms, and the variations between surgical masks and N95 respirators, in order to alleviate confusion and misinformation. Then, we summarize the electrospun nanofiber-based filters and their unique properties to improve the filtration efficiency of face masks and respirators.

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Effects of Short-Term Exposure to Inhalable Particulate Matter on Telomere Length, Telomerase Expression, and Telomerase Methylation in Steel Workers

Environmental Health Perspectives ◽

10.1289/ehp.1002486 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 119 (5) ◽

pp. 622-627 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

Laura Dioni ◽

Mirjam Hoxha ◽

Francesco Nordio ◽

Matteo Bonzini ◽

Letizia Tarantini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Telomere Length ◽

Short Term ◽

Steel Workers ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Inhalable Particulate Matter

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Effects of Short-term Exposure to Inhalable Particulate Matter on Tandem Repeats DNA Methylation

ISEE Conference Abstracts ◽

10.1289/isee.2013.p-3-03-16 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 (1) ◽

pp. 3359

Author(s):

Liqiong Guo ◽

Andrea A Baccarelli ◽

Hyang-Min Byun ◽

Valeria Motta ◽

Jitendra Barupal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

Short Term ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Inhalable Particulate Matter

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COVID-19-Related Changes in NO2 and O3 Concentrations and Associated Health Effects in Malta

Frontiers in Sustainable Cities ◽

10.3389/frsc.2021.631280 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Sara Fenech ◽

Noel J. Aquilina ◽

Ryan Vella

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Health Effects ◽

Learning Algorithm ◽

Short Term ◽

Complex Composition ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Maltese Islands ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Traffic Site ◽

Business As Usual

The start of 2020 has been characterized by emission reductions in various countries across the globe following the implementation of different lock-down measures to control the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Consequently, these reductions influenced the air quality globally. In this study, we focus on daily nitrogen dioxide (NO2) as well as ozone (O3) concentrations measured across the Maltese Islands between January and mid-October 2020. Changes in air quality are generally difficult to detect due to the complex composition and interactions occurring within the atmosphere. To quantify changes in NO2 and O3 concentrations during the COVID-19 period, we use a random forest machine learning algorithm to determine a business as usual counterfactual scenario. Results highlight a decrease in monthly mean NO2 concentrations by up to 54% in the traffic site of Msida (~21 μg m−3). In contrast, the monthly mean O3 concentrations during the COVID-19 months are up to 61% higher compared to a business as usual scenario in Msida (~28 μg m−3). In this study, we also estimate the differences in attributable fraction (AF) associated with short-term exposure to NO2 and O3 concentrations. In Msida, the AF is up to 0.9% lower and 0.8% higher for measured NO2 and O3 concentrations, respectively. Our results highlight the favorable effects of decreasing traffic-related emissions on NO2 concentrations however, we also note increases in other pollutants for example O3 concentrations which especially in the short-term can lead to various adverse health effects.

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Effects of short-term exposure to inhalable particulate matter on DNA methylation of tandem repeats

Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis ◽

10.1002/em.21838 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 55 (4) ◽

pp. 322-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Liqiong Guo ◽

Hyang-Min Byun ◽

Jia Zhong ◽

Valeria Motta ◽

Jitendra Barupal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Tandem Repeats ◽

Short Term ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Inhalable Particulate Matter

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Effects of progesterone on the reproductive physiology in zebrafish

10.1101/147280 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Chunyun Zhong ◽

Kewen Xiong ◽

Xin Wang

Keyword(s):

Endocrine System ◽

Aquatic Organisms ◽

Fish Reproduction ◽

Health Issues ◽

Adult Zebrafish ◽

Female Fish ◽

Short Term ◽

Male Fish ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Short Term Exposure

AbstractRecent studies have investigated that the synthetic progestins may lead to health issues to the aquatic organisms. Progesterone is a steroidal progestin and has been used as a contraceptive drug, which is detected in the aquatic ecosystem. However, the potential effects of progesterone on the fish reproduction are largely unclear. Here, we tested the effects of progesterone on the fish reproductive and endocrine systems. Adult zebrafish were exposed to progesterone for 10 days at environmental concentrations. The production of eggs was reduced in the exposed fish, and the circulating concentrations of estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) in female fish or 11-keto testosterone (11-KT) in male fish were significantly diminished. Our results suggested that progesterone may cause adverse health effects on fish by disrupting the endocrine system, and short-term exposure to progesterone could overt affect the fish reproduction.

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The Effect of Dimethyl Sulfoxide on In Vitro Platelet Function

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1648027 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 36 (01) ◽

pp. 221-229 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Charles A. Schiffer ◽

Caroline L. Whitaker ◽

Morton Schmukler ◽

Joseph Aisner ◽

Steven L. Hilbert

Keyword(s):

Platelet Count ◽

Platelet Aggregation ◽

Dimethyl Sulfoxide ◽

Platelet Function ◽

Platelet Volume ◽

Short Term ◽

Platelet Factor ◽

Short Term Exposure ◽

Structural Abnormalities

SummaryAlthough dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been used extensively as a cryopreservative for platelets there are few studies dealing with the effect of DMSO on platelet function. Using techniques similar to those employed in platelet cryopreservation platelets were incubated with final concentrations of 2-10% DMSO at 25° C. After exposure to 5 and 10% DMSO platelets remained discoid and electron micrographs revealed no structural abnormalities. There was no significant change in platelet count. In terms of injury to platelet membranes, there was no increased availability of platelet factor-3 or leakage of nucleotides, 5 hydroxytryptamine (5HT) or glycosidases with final DMSO concentrations of 2.5, 5 and 10% DMSO. Thrombin stimulated nucleotide and 5HT release was reduced by 10% DMSO. Impairment of thrombin induced glycosidase release was noted at lower DMSO concentrations and was dose related. Similarly, aggregation to ADP was progressively impaired at DMSO concentrations from 1-5% and was dose related. After the platelets exposed to DMSO were washed, however, aggregation and release returned to control values. Platelet aggregation by epinephrine was also inhibited by DMSO and this could not be corrected by washing the platelets. DMSO-plasma solutions are hypertonic but only minimal increases in platelet volume (at 10% DMSO) could be detected. Shrinkage of platelets was seen with hypertonic solutions of sodium chloride or sucrose suggesting that the rapid transmembrane passage of DMSO prevented significant shifts of water. These studies demonstrate that there are minimal irreversible alterations in in vitro platelet function after short-term exposure to DMSO.

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