A new video uses laser technology to show how much you spit when you talk without a mask and with a mask.
- The video comes as people begin to wear masks in public to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has become a worldwide pandemic.
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The video — published by the New England Journal of Medicine — shows off how many particles and droplets fall out of your mouth when speaking.
- Specifically, the subject says the words “stay healthy” at a few different volumes.
- In the beginning of the video, the subjects wears a mask while saying the phrase. Several droplets appear on the screen.
- The subject later says “stay healthy” while wearing a mask. Almost no droplets appear.
Why it matters
- As STAT reported, a new study from scientists at the National Institutes of Health shows that speaking calmly and at a normal volume can produce liquid droplets that can stay in the air long enough to enter other people’s airways, potentially infecting them with the coronavirus or other microbugs if you have them
- Harvard University biologist Matthew Meselson wrote: “Aerosols from infected persons may therefore pose an inhalation threat even at considerable distances and in enclosed spaces, particularly if there is poor ventilation.”
That said ...
- According to The Verge, the NEJM video captured only particles from 20 to 500 micrometers (human hair is about 75 micrometers for comparison). People can produce particles much smaller than the ones we see on screen. Smaller ones can carry the coronavirus.
- Experts told The Verge that the video could give people false security and make believe think that they can go back out in public if they just cover their mouth.
- Alex Huffman, an associate professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Denver, told The Verge that the video is a good starting place for people to see how masks can help. But it doesn’t solve all issues.