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The effect of activity and face masks on exhaled particles in children

Peter P Moschovis1, Jesiel Lombay1, Jennifer Rooney1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School Boston Massachusetts USA.

Pediatric Investigation
|June 16, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Children produce exhaled particles during activities like coughing and sneezing. Surgical face masks significantly reduce these particles, especially those that can transmit respiratory viruses.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric respiratory health
  • Aerosol science
  • Infectious disease transmission

Background:

  • Respiratory infections are a significant health concern for children.
  • Understanding particle production during activities is crucial for infection control.
  • Limited data exists on children's exhaled particle production and mask efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of different activities and mask types on exhaled particle production in children.
  • To quantify particle concentration and size during various activities.
  • To assess the effectiveness of cloth and surgical masks in reducing particle emission.

Main Methods:

  • Healthy children performed activities of varying intensity (breathing, speaking, singing, coughing, sneezing).
  • Particle concentration and size were measured with no mask, a cloth mask, and a surgical mask.
  • Statistical analysis, including multivariable linear regression, was used to evaluate findings.

Main Results:

  • Exhaled particle concentration increased with activity intensity, peaking during sneezing.
  • High-intensity activities produced more respirable particles (≤ 5 µm).
  • Both cloth and surgical masks reduced particle concentration, with surgical masks showing greater efficacy, particularly for respirable particles.

Conclusions:

  • Children's exhaled particle production varies by activity, similar to adults.
  • Coughing and sneezing significantly increase respirable particle emission.
  • Surgical face masks are most effective in reducing the transmission of respiratory particles from children.
Abstract

Keywords:
AerosolFace masksRespiratory particles

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