“Abstract: A review of the peer-reviewed medical literature examines impacts of masks on human health, both immunological, as well as physiological. The purpose of this paper is to examine data regarding the effectiveness of facemasks, as well as safety data…
Weighing risk versus benefit of mask use…
The use of face masks, whether cloth, surgical or N95, creates a poor obstacle to aerosolized pathogens as we can see from the meta-analyses and other studies in this paper, allowing both transmission of aerosolized pathogens to others in various directions, as well as self-contamination. Forward projection of exhaled material may be partly replaced by lateral, backward, downward and upward projection, and to greater distances, with longer time airborne, from a masked person than from an unmasked person.
It must also be considered that masks impede the necessary volume of air intake required for adequate oxygen / carbon dioxide exchange, which results in observed physiological effects that may be undesirable. Even 6-minute walks, let alone more strenuous activity, resulted in 7 dyspnea. The volume of unobstructed oxygen in a typical breath is about 100 ml, used for normal physiological processes. 100 ml O2 greatly exceeds the volume of a pathogen required for transmission.
The foregoing data show that masks serve more as instruments of obstruction of normal breathing, rather than as effective barriers to pathogens. Therefore, masks should not be used by the general public, either by adults or children, and their limitations as prophylaxis against pathogens should also be considered in medical settings. The clinical studies and meta- analyses that are referenced, cited and linked herein are presented in order to provide the best opportunity for informed decision-making, and for individuals to consider and compare the risks versus benefits of mask use.”
https://pdmj.org/about Authors always retain copyright of articles published by Primary Doctor Medical Journal. Articles may be freely accessed, shared and forwarded, whether electronically or in print. Articles may be scanned for use on other websites, with the provision that PDMJ.org is acknowledged as the source, and the article authors are credited with the writing.