Aug 27, 2023
Study finds wearing masks for 30 minutes exposes to toxic chemicals.
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The researchers specifically flagged the chemicals dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and dimethylformamide (DMF) for being linked to liver and reproductive damage.
The team acknowledged that the sample size was small and that they did not test several other popular disposable masks like KN95s.
The study builds off previous research suggesting that mask wearing could cause more harm than good.
Research carried out by the Cochrane Institute, for example, suggested that face masks made ‘little to no difference’ in Covid infections and deaths.
The researchers said harms caused by masks – including hampering children’s schooling – were poorly measured in the studies, meaning any small benefit on infection rates may be outweighed.
And a controversial study suggested that wearing face masks raises the risk of stillbirths, testicular dysfunction, and cognitive decline in children.
However, experts have criticized the study for drawing conclusions without proper evidence.
‘It is indeed possible that certain masks have side effects, just as certain helpful medications (anti-histamines, psychotropic drugs, antibiotics) have side effects,’ Dr Fischer said.
‘Almost everything in healthcare has a benefit/side effect profile.’
Though the findings were published in April, the study could have new relevance as Covid variant BA.2.86 spreads across the US.