Face Masks Lead to Breathing Dangerous Levels of Carbon Dioxide Even When Sitting Still, Study Finds

Wearing a face mask results in exposure to dangerous concentrations of carbon dioxide in inhaled air, even when the mask is worn for just five minutes when sitting still, a study has found.

The study, a pre-print from a team in Italy, used a technique called capnography to take the measurements of CO2 in inhaled air over the course of five minutes, following a ten minute period of rest, with participants seated, silent and breathing only through the nose.

The study found the mean CO2 concentration of inhaled air without masks was 458 ppm.

While the study did not find a reduction in blood oxygen saturation during the five minutes of observation of a person at rest, the authors note that research on 53 surgeons wearing masks for an extended period found that blood oxygen saturation decreased noticeably.

The authors note this is the first study to assess properly the CO2 concentration of inhaled air while wearing a face mask.

The study is a pilot study, and so calls for larger and more detailed studies to confirm the effects it observes and explore them further.

We might add that, given the lack of evidence masks do much if anything to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the mounting evidence they do harm, they should be jettisoned as a pandemic measure entirely.

https://dailysceptic.org/2022/05/13/face-masks-lead-to-breathing-dangerous-levels-of-carbon-dioxide-even-when-sitting-still-study-finds/