Face Masks Helping Enable Return to Normalcy
February 16, 2022 
Graduate students at Texas Tech University analyzed COVID-19 data as part of a class and research on countermeasures to infections and toxins. From left: Rachael Afolabi, Haripriya Ramesh, Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, Mirza Khyum, Md Faizur Rahman, Kenneth Kikanme. (Photo: Texas Tech University)
With the COVID-19 wave waning and many U.S. states easing their face mask recommendations, it is important to understand the role played by face coverings in offering varied levels of protection during the pandemic.
For nearly two years, face masks have been a much-debated product, while they have played an important role in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 variants.
Since March 2020, when the pandemic was recognized and vaccinations were beginning, face masks have played an essential role in saving lives. They are one of the critical tools in the toolbox to fight infections caused by airborne microbes.
The use of different versions of face coverings has genuinely spotlighted the use of cotton and its blends. While in the public domain, technical details may not have been much discussed – certainly among stakeholders from producers to fashion designers. But the technical advantages of cellulose-based materials for medical and personnel protection has gained support and interest.
Haripriya Ramesh, doctoral student in the Department of Environmental Toxicology at Texas Tech University, wears face coverings in indoor public settings such as classrooms, stating that cotton-based face coverings are comfortable and make her feel safe when wearing them.
As the Omicron wave was peaking in late Fall 2021, the medical community emphasized the need for high quality face masks such as N95s. N95s and other filtering facepiece respirators offer the highest level of protection, which is needed where a higher level of transmissions is experienced.
In communities other than highly vulnerable settings such as health care facilities, other masking strategies that involve nonwoven face masks in combination with multilayered cotton-based face coverings may be helpful. In all these scenarios, fit is important. The use of cotton-based face coverings as a combo may provide next-to-skin comfort, provided the combo structure provides a good fit.
This alternate masking strategy takes filtration, fit, and comfort into consideration and has evolved out of two years of class discussions and research in Texas Tech’s Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory. Cotton-based multilayered face coverings with more than two layers are needed when used in combination with 3-ply nonwoven surgical masks to offer good protection.
Graduate students were involved both in research on PPE and analyzing the infection and vaccination rates as part of the “Countermeasures to Toxins” graduate level course at Texas Tech University. It has become evident that courses that deal with an ongoing crisis result in timely and valuable deliverables. Such activities also strengthen the course information based on relevance and ongoing research, adding value to the courses.
COVID-19 has strengthened our understanding that textile materials which have functional capabilities play vital roles in medical, hygiene, and personnel protection applications.
Stakeholders in the textile and material sectors must focus on non-commodity applications and provide support for much needed research and development in the advanced materials sector.
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