Face masks have negligible negative effect on CO2 and O2 levels
A new study suggests that face masks have a negligible negative effect on the levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen that a person breathes.
The findings even hold true for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The research, which appears in the journal Annals of the American Thoracic Society, contributes to dispelling some of the myths surrounding the use of face masks in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
As the world gains access to more information about SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, scientists have become increasingly convinced that masks can help reduce its spread.
The primary way that SARS-CoV-2 transmits involves viral particles entering a person’s respiratory tract. This typically happens after another person coughs, sneezes, or speaks near them, producing droplets or aerosols that transport the virus.
Consequently, face masks play an important role in reducing exposure to the virus and limiting the amount
