Use of conservative and social media linked with COVID-19 misinformation

by University of Pennsylvania

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

People who relied on conservative media or social media in the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak were more likely to be misinformed about how to prevent the virus and believe conspiracy theories about it, a study of media use and public knowledge has found.

Based on an Annenberg Science Knowledge survey fielded in early March with over a thousand adults, the study was conducted by researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The study, published this week in the Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review, found that there were notable differences in views about the coronavirus that correlated with people's media consumption.

Media usage and COVID-19 misinformation

Conservative media usage (such as Fox News and Rush Limbaugh) correlated with higher levels of misinformation and belief in conspiracies about the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, including:

• The belief that the Chinese government created the virus as a bioweapon (scientists say the virus likely originated with animals and there is "strong evidence" it is "not the product of purposeful manipulation");
• The belief that some in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were exaggerating the danger posed by the coronavirus in order to damage Donald Trump's presidency;
• The belief that taking vitamin C can prevent a person from being infected with the coronavirus (which is unsupported by evidence).

Social media and web aggregator usage was associated with lower levels of information and higher levels of misinformation:

• People who used social media (such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube) were more likely to believe that taking vitamin C can prevent infection with the coronavirus; that some in the CDC were exaggerating the threat to harm the president; and that the virus was created by the U.S. government;
• People who used web aggregators (such as Google News, Yahoo News) were less likely to believe in the effectiveness of hand washing and avoidance of symptomatic individuals as ways to prevent transmission of the virus (in early March, asymptomatic transmission was less clear).

Mainstream broadcast and print media usage correlated with higher levels of correct information and lower levels of misinformation:

• People who reported using broadcast news (such as ABC News, CBS News, NBC News) were more likely to say, correctly, that the novel coronavirus is more lethal than the seasonal flu.
• People who consume mainstream print news (such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal) were more likely to hold accurate beliefs about the virus. They were more likely to report that they believe that regular hand washing and avoiding contact with symptomatic people are ways to prevent infection with the coronavirus; and less likely to believe that vitamin C can prevent infection, that some in the CDC were exaggerating the threat in order to undermine the president, and that the Chinese government created the virus as a bioweapon.

"Because both information and misinformation can affect behavior, we all ought be doing our part not only to increase essential knowledge about SARS-CoV-2, but also to interdict the spread of deceptions about its origins, prevention, and effects," said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC), who co-authored the paper with Dolores Albarracín of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, an APPC distinguished research fellow. "Additionally, all forms of media should ask, Are our audiences better prepared to deal with this coronavirus as a result of our work or is their trust in us endangering them and their communities?"

Jamieson said that people seeking to verify information can go to government health sites such as the CDC website or to APPC's fact-checking project, FactCheck.org.

Annenberg Science Knowledge survey findings

The study is the first in a series on COVID-19 by APPC, which conducted similar research in 2016 on the Zika virus and in 2019 on vaccination during the measles outbreak. "Like the earlier studies, the current effort will track the success of the media in presenting accurate information and of health communicators in getting the message out," Jamieson said.

The Annenberg Science Knowledge (ASK) survey on COVID-19 was conducted March 3-8, 2020, among a nationally representative sample of 1,008 U.S. adults. The survey, conducted for APPC by SSRS, an independent research company, has a margin of error of ±3.57%.

The survey found that 87% correctly said regular hand washing and avoiding people with virus symptoms were preventative measures against COVID-19, a success in public health messaging. But it also found troubling gaps in public knowledge and worrisome belief in conspiracy theories:

• More than 1 in 5 respondents (23%) thought it was probably or definitely true that the Chinese had created the virus as a bioweapon (there is no evidence of this);
• More than 1 in 5 (21%) thought taking vitamin C can probably or definitely prevent infection by the coronavirus (it does not);
• Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) said it was probably or definitely true that some in the CDC were exaggerating the danger posed by the virus in order to damage the Trump presidency;
• And 1 in 10 (10%) said it was probably or definitely true that the U.S. government had created the virus (there is no evidence of this).

"The findings from this ASK survey contribute to the scholarship on health and science communication while also providing insights on what to do as the U.S. resolves this pandemic," Albarracín said. "The next step will be to test the efficacy of the recommendations suggested by this research."

Five recommendations

The researchers offered five recommendations to improve public understanding of the virus:

1) The need for proactive communication about prevention: While a high portion of the public (87%) knew that hand washing and avoiding symptomatic people were preventative measures, gaps in public knowledge "should alert public health officials to the ongoing need for effective communication of needed information long before a crisis."

2) Find out what information to debunk: In order to focus fact-checkers most effectively, the researchers proposed prioritizing corrections for misinformation held by at least 10% of the population. Here, for instance, the conspiracy theory that the virus was developed by the Chinese as a bioweapon (held by 23%) and that some in the CDC exaggerated the threat to harm the president (19%) should be prioritized by fact-checkers.

3) A baseline for monitoring social media interventions: By offering an early window on misinformation in the pandemic, the study provides a way to assess the social media platforms' efforts to blunt the effects of misinformation.

4) Proposed interventions in conservative media: The study should motivate public health officials to place public service announcements, encourage hyperlinks to CDC web pages, and seek interviews on news outlets whose audiences are less knowledgeable, more misinformed, or more accepting of conspiracy theories. The researchers noted that Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, did that on March 11 by going on Sean Hannity's Fox News show, where Fauci explained that coronavirus is much more lethal than the seasonal flu.

5) Newspapers should take down paywalls on coronavirus coverage: The finding that reading mainstream print publications is associated with greater knowledge of the virus should encourage print media to follow the lead of publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, and others to make their virus coverage free to all readers. Readers who appreciate the public health coverage may respond by subscribing—or with donations.

Researcher launches effort to combat coronavirus conspiracies

More information: Kathleen Hall Jamieson et al, The Relation between Media Consumption and Misinformation at the Outset of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in the US, Harvard Kennedy School Misinformation Review (2020). DOI: 10.37016/mr-2020-012

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Dolphins reclaim Bosphorus as virus silences Istanbul

by Fulya Ozerkan

The lockdown has meant fewer ships and more fish in the water, prompting more frequent sightings of the mammals

A lull in boat traffic and a fishing ban in Istanbul forced by the coronavirus pandemic has proved good news for some of the city's most-loved inhabitants—the dolphins that swim in the fish-rich waters of the Bosphorus Strait between Europe and Asia.


The Turkish city of 16 million has been under lockdown since Thursday as part of government measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus, following two successive weekends where it was also shut down.

The latest confinement period is due to expire on Sunday midnight.

The pandemic has claimed more than 2,700 lives in Turkey.

Spotting dolphins in the Bosphorus—a usually very busy narrow waterway connecting the Mediterranean to the Black Sea right through the heart of Istanbul—is often a source of joy for the city's residents.

But the lockdown has meant fewer ships and more fish in the water, encouraging the mammals to come closer to shore and prompting more frequent sightings.

"A decrease in boat and human traffic across the Bosphorus has a big impact," said Erol Orkcu, head of the amateur and sports fishing association in Istanbul.

"Terrestrial and aquatic living things can remain free without human beings. That enables dolphins to come closer to the shoreline," he told AFP.

Before the pandemic, fishing was a daily ritual in Istanbul with hundreds lighting fires or bringing samovars for making tea as they prepared for long angling stints along the shore.

The sight of thousands of amateur fishers on the Galata Bridge and on the banks of the Bosphorus is one of the city's iconic images. But they are now almost deserted.

The water off Istanbul is abnormally tranquil due to coronavirus restrictions

A dolphin swimming through Istanbul's unusually calm Bosphorus Strait

THIS IS NOT PARIS, THE PICTURE HAS BEEN USED IN SOCIAL MEDIA TO CLAIM THERE WERE DOLPHINS IN THE SEINE IN PARIS 


'Terror' of fishing halted

Yoruk Isik, a dedicated ship spotter who snaps vessels passing through the Bosphorus, said he had photographed dolphins before the pandemic but now they were swimming much closer to the shore.

Dolphins "are coming closer to the edge of the water as the terror of uncontrolled anglers on the shoreline has temporarily stopped," he told AFP.

"I call it terror because 90 percent of them are not aware of what they are doing and cause incredible environmental pollution," he said.

At Sarayburnu, which separates the Golden Horn from the Sea of Marmara, a pod of dolphins were spotted swimming with an army of seagulls—to the joy of photographers.

The visibility of the dolphins is seen as an indicator of a healthy maritime ecosystem as the mammals are fighting for survival.

Turkish literary giant Yasar Kemal wrote about the devastation wrought on the country's coastal ecosystems by the overhunting of dolphins for oil in his 1978 novel "The Sea-Crossed Fisherman".

Since 1983, maritime mammal hunting has been prohibited in Turkey, and dolphins are protected by law.


Explore further   Istanbul anglers keep up tradition despite stocks alarm

© 2020 AFP

What the EPA's mercury decision means for public health

by Leah Burrows, Harvard University

Elsie Sunderland, the Gordon McKay Professor of Environmental Chemistry. Credit: Eliza Grinnell/Harvard SEAS

On April 16th, the Trump administration gutted a key component of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), a set of regulations designed to compel the country's oil-and-coal-fired power plants to cut emissions of mercury and other hazardous air pollutants. The administration determined that it is not "appropriate and necessary" to regulate mercury under the Clean Air Act and that the costs of doing so would far outweigh the public health benefits.

However, environmental scientists and public health experts disagree with that rationale. There is strong evidence that rolling back mercury regulations will cost billions of dollars and will have a sweeping impact on public health in the United States, especially in the country's most vulnerable communities.

We spoke with Elsie Sunderland, the Gordon McKay Professor of Environmental Chemistry at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) about the impact of this decision.

First, why is mercury so bad for human health?

Sunderland: After mercury is emitted to the atmosphere from power plants, it is deposited to terrestrial ecosystems and the ocean, where some of it is converted to methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin that bioaccumulates in fish and other organisms—including us. Methylmercury has been associated with impaired cardiovascular health, long term developmental delays, affects reproductive success, and is a suspected endocrine disrupter. Children exposed to methylmercury during a mother's pregnancy have been shown to experience persistent and lifelong IQ and motor function deficits. Not a single person thinks more methylmercury in the environment would be positive.

Has MATs been successful in reducing mercury emissions?

Yes. Since it was implemented, mercury emissions from U.S. coal-fired power plants have declined by 85 percent. The estimated number of children born in the U.S. each year with high levels of prenatal exposure to methylmercury levels has decreased by half. Where mercury emissions have declined, health has improved.

What was the EPA's justification for weakening MATS?

The EPA regulatory assessment was based on flawed and incomplete estimates of the benefits of reducing mercury. The EPA estimates that the yearly mercury-related health benefits of reducing emissions would be less than $10 million, which is way too low. EPA came to that figure by only considering health impacts for the children of freshwater recreational anglers in the U.S., a tiny fraction of the total population exposure to methlymercury. Most benefits to human health and wildlife haven't been monetized yet. The biggest oversight in terms of health effects was that EPA did not quantify the potential for increased risk of mortality due to impaired cardiovascular health. If you consider all of the benefits of reducing coal-fired power plant mercury emissions, they are easily orders of magnitude greater than those quantified by EPA. For example, one recent study found that the cumulative benefits associated with implementation of MATS exceeded $43 billion.

What about the administration's claims that the costs would far outweigh the benefits?

The EPA overestimated the costs of MATS at $9.6 billion. We know this is much higher than the actual cost because there were declines in natural gas prices and cheaper equipment and renewable energy costs. Even with the original overestimate, the EPA projected that MATS would increase the monthly electric bill of the average American household by only $2.71, which is well within the price fluctuation consumers experience. So, the mercury-related benefits of the MATS rule are much larger than the EPA estimated and the actual costs appear to be substantially lower.

Does this mean that there will be no regulations for mercury moving forward?

MATS is still technically in place for now but this decision severely undermines its foundation and paves the way for lawsuits from companies opposed to it and could prevent similar regulations from being implemented in the future.

Is there anything that can be done to stop this decision from moving forward?

At this point the next step is a lawsuit. This administration's decision to overturn MATS shows a blatant disregard for science and expert advice. For example, two days before the decision was announced, EPA's own Scientific Advisory Board suggested the regulatory impact assessment for MATS was outdated and flawed and should be redone

New study finds EPA mercury analysis is 'seriously flawed'

Provided by Harvard University 

Microplastics found in Antarctic ice cores

by Bob Yirka , Phys.org

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

A team of researchers from the University of Tasmania has found evidence of microplastics in ice cores collected off the coast of Antarctica. In their paper published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin, the group describes their study of the cores and the plastics they found.


Last year, a team of researchers found examples of microplastics in Arctic ice floes, further evidence of the spread of the pollutants in the world's oceans. In this new effort, the team in Tasmania has found evidence of microplastics in ice cores collected in Antarctica ten years ago.

The cores were collected as part of work dedicated to better understanding the Antarctic—they were taken from sites approximately 2 kilometers from the Antarctic coast and have been in storage at a facility in Hobart, Tasmania, awaiting analysis. The cores were from ice that forms around the coast and thus, unlike pack ice, does not move.

Study of the cores (which were 1.1 meters long and 14 cm wide) revealed 96 particles from 14 kinds of microplastic, with an average of 12 pieces per liter of water—all of the particles were 5 mm or shorter. The most common type was polyethylene, which is used in a wide variety of products. The finding was the first for Antarctic ice—prior studies had found microplastics in water, snow and sediment.

The researchers also noted that the microplastic particles were surrounded by algae, a finding that suggests they may be eaten by krill, which feed on sea ice. And that further suggests that the particles are being consumed by whales when they eat the krill.

The source of the microplastics is not known, though the researchers suggest their size indicates that they are from relatively local sources. The longer microplastics remain in the sea, the smaller they become. They note that the ice cores were taken from the eastern side of the continent, which is visited less often than the west side. They suggest it is likely ice in more highly traveled areas has more microplastic particles in it. They also note that prior studies have shown that microplastics in ice can lead to melting due to heat absorption.


Explore further  Microplastics from ocean fishing can 'hide' in deep sediments

More information: A. Kelly et al. Microplastic contamination in east Antarctic sea ice, Marine Pollution Bulletin (2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111130

Journal information: Marine Pollution Bulletin



© 2020 Science X Network

New solution to capture microplastics before they enter waterways

by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

A scanning electron microscope shows how the microplastic particles are attached to the nanocellulose structure. The diameter of the plastic particles is 100 nanometers. Credit: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

A thousand liters of seawater can contain up to 8.3 million particles of microplastics. Until now, identifying these very small particles has been difficult—usually they are only detected once they have accumulated in the bodies of fish. A method developed at VTT utilizes nanocellulose structures for early particle identification. Nanocellulose would allow particles to be captured even before they enter waterways.


The properties of nanocellulose films and hydrogels support the identification and capture of very small microplastic particles.

"Nanocellulose has a mesh-like, porous structure and a large BET surface area. In the water, powerful capillary forces are generated in this structure, allowing particles to be transported inside the mesh and bound there," says Research Professor Tekla Tammelin from VTT.

The method provides a way to catch microplastic particles of a size that the human eye cannot detect. These are particles with a diameter of only 100 nanometers.

"Nanocellulose structures can be used to identify and analyze these particles and to obtain information about their behavior at an earlier stage. We can determine the concentration of particles in water and analyze, for example, whether particles are released into drinking water from plastic bottles."

Next step: filtration methods

The identification of microplastic particles with nanocellulose structures has been developed at VTT as part of the FinnCERES flagship project, which is exploring new bio-based material solutions. The next step could be to develop new and inexpensive filtration solutions utilizing the method.

"New filtration solutions would allow particles to be captured where they are generated. The solutions could be utilized, for example, in laundry, where microplastic particles are released from fleece clothing and other synthetic fibers. Similarly, we could develop filtration methods for any industry where there is a risk of microplastics being generated and released into waterways."


Explore further Lobster digestion of microplastics could further foul the food chain

Provided by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

Scientists develop first 3-D mass estimate of microplastic pollution in Lake Erie

by Luke Auburn, Rochester Institute of Technology

RIT scientists developed the first three-dimensional model to show where microplastic pollution is collecting in Lake Erie. This figure is the result of a half-year model simulation of particle count distribution in the lake's open water. Credit: RIT

Rochester Institute of Technology scientists have developed the first three-dimensional mass estimate to show where microplastic pollution is collecting in Lake Erie. The study examines nine different types of polymers that are believed to account for 75 percent of the world's plastic waste.

Plastic behaves differently in lakes than in oceans; previous studies on both have indicated the levels of plastic pollution found on the surface are lower than expected based on how much is entering the water. While massive floating "islands" of accumulated plastic waste have been found in oceans, previous studies have indicated the levels of plastic pollution found on the surface of Lake Erie are lower than expected based on how much is entering the water.

The new RIT estimate for the 3-D mass—381 metric tons—is more than 50 times greater than the previous estimates at the surface. The study also generated the first estimate of how much plastic is deposited on the bottom of the lake. It accounts for the unique properties of different types of plastics and shows that the three polymers with the lowest density—polyethylene, polypropylene and expanded polystyrene—accumulate on the surface of the lake while the other six polymers were concentrated in the sediment.

"Previously there was a focus on plastics modeled as neutrally buoyant for the most part in the beginning of plastics modeling," said Juliette Daily, a mathematical modeling Ph.D. student and author of the study. "In reality, plastic is probably almost never neutrally buoyant. It's probably always positively or negatively buoyant, which really changes how the particles behave."

The study shows other interesting patterns, such as plastic particles accumulating more heavily on the eastern shore of the lake, perhaps from the current moving predominantly west to east. This means that pollution could be pushed disproportionately to areas like Buffalo, N.Y. The authors hope other researchers will continue to build on this research and explore how factors like beaching can further explain where plastic particles end up.

"Trying to understand where plastic is going is important for people looking at mitigation or prevention and will be important for understanding what the most likely impacted areas are," said Matthew Hoffman, associate professor in the School of Mathematical Sciences and co-author of the paper. "Looking at things in the sediment or getting an idea of what is down in the lower levels of the lake will give us a better idea of what concentrations there are and what possible exposure levels are to this ecosystem."

The study is published in the May 2020 edition of the Marine Pollution Bulletin.

Explore furtherResearchers estimate 10,000 metric tons of plastic enter Great Lakes every year

More information: Juliette Daily et al, Modeling the three-dimensional transport and distribution of multiple microplastic polymer types in Lake Erie, Marine Pollution Bulletin (2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111024

Journal information: Marine Pollution Bulletin


Provided by Rochester Institute of Technology

Adsorbent material developed from PET bottles for the removal of antibiotics from water

by National Research Council of Science & Technology

The KIST research team observed magnetic porous carbon composite materials in the transmission electron microscope. Researchers tested the efficiency of the porous carbon composite in terms of its ability to adsorb "tetracycline," or the antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, from the water. Tests showed that the newly developed material was able to remove 100% of the tetracycline in about 90 minutes under general water conditions (pH 6), with an adsorption rate of 671.14 mg/g, which is a rate superior to that of previously developed adsorbents. In order to assess the reusability of the porous carbon composite, the adsorption-desorption process was conducted five times. Even after repeated use, the material maintained 90% of its adsorption properties, indicating a high degree of stability and wide applicability for water treatment. Credit: Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)

South Korea, with its high antibiotic use, is categorized as a country at high risk of the emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria, or so-called "super bacteria." According to the Ministry of Environment, antibiotic substances have been detected at livestock wastewater treatment facilities, sewage treatment plants and in rivers.

The Korea Institute of Science and Technology announced that a research team, led by researchers Jung Kyung-won and Choi Jae-woo, at KIST's Water Cycle Research Center, has developed a high-efficiency, adsorbent material using PET waste bottles. The new material is expected to help solve the problem of environmental toxins and antibiotic-resistant bacteria which are caused by leaks of antibiotics into water.

Currently, the most well-known method of effectively removing antibiotics from water uses porous carbon composite, synthesized by pyrolyzing metal-organic frameworks (MOF). Porous carbon composites adsorb antibiotics in the water, thereby removing them. However, since the organic ligand generally used to synthesize MOF is very expensive, the cost is a major obstacle to this method's widespread, practical application through mass production.

In order to develop a more cost-effective solution, the KIST research team turned its attention to the PET bottles that people use in their everyday lives. PET is a high-molecular compound obtained by polymerizing ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, the latter of which is used as organic ligand for the syntheses of MOF. The KIST research team extracted high-purity organic ligand from PET waste bottles and used it to synthesize a high-efficiency adsorbent material that could effectively remove antibiotics from water in an environmentally and economically beneficial way.

The KIST research team extracted high-purity organic ligand from PET waste bottles and used it to synthesize a high-efficiency adsorbent material that could effectively remove antibiotics from water in an environmentally and economically beneficial way. During the development of this adsorbent material, an alkaline hydrolysis process was used to induce a neutralization reaction, resulting in the production of a high-purity terephthalic acid. Credit: Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST)

During the development of this adsorbent material, an alkaline hydrolysis process was used to induce a neutralization reaction, resulting in the production of a high-purity terephthalic acid. To maximize the efficiency of the alkaline hydrolysis process, the research team incorporated an ultrasound-assisted phase transfer catalyst process. By optimizing this process, the team was able to successfully extract 100% high-purity terephthalic acid, which they then used to develop a porous carbon composite. Iron-based MOF was used as a precursor in order to impart magnetism to the adsorbent material. In this way, the team was able to develop an eco-material that can be easily separated from the mixture after the adsorption process, using an external magnetic field.


The KIST research team tested the efficiency of the porous carbon composite in terms of its ability to adsorb "tetracycline," or the antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, from the water. Tests showed that the newly developed material was able to remove 100% of the tetracycline in about 90 minutes under general water conditions (pH 6), with an adsorption rate of 671.14 mg/g, which is a rate superior to that of previously developed adsorbents. In order to assess the reusability of the porous carbon composite, the adsorption-desorption process was conducted five times. Even after repeated use, the material maintained 90% of its adsorption properties, indicating a high degree of stability and wide applicability for water treatment.

Dr. Jung Kyung-won at KIST said, "This porous carbon composite is applicable to a wide range of water treatment areas as it uses waste plastics to prevent environmental pollution and maintains its high adsorption properties even after repeated use."

KIST's Dr. Choi Jae-woo said, "The porous carbon composite developed through this research is applicable to various fields, ranging from eco-materials to energy materials, and I expect that it will soon be highly regarded as a value-added eco-material."


Explore further 

Researchers develop high-capacity EV battery materials that double driving range

More information: Ju‐Myung Kim et al, Ecofriendly Chemical Activation of Overlithiated Layered Oxides by DNA‐Wrapped Carbon Nanotubes, Advanced Energy Materials (2020). DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201903658

Journal information: Advanced Energy Materials


Provided by National Research Council of Science & Technology

The best material for homemade face masks may be a combination of two fabrics

by American Chemical Society  APRIL 24, 2020

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people wear masks in public. Because N95 and surgical masks are scarce and should be reserved for health care workers, many people are making their own coverings. Now, researchers report in ACS Nano that a combination of cotton with natural silk or chiffon can effectively filter out aerosol particles—if the fit is good.

SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, is thought to spread mainly through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks or breathes. These droplets form in a wide range of sizes, but the tiniest ones, called aerosols, can easily slip through the openings between certain cloth fibers, leading some people to question whether cloth masks can actually help prevent disease. Therefore, Supratik Guha at the University of Chicago and colleagues wanted to study the ability of common fabrics, alone or in combination, to filter out aerosols similar in size to respiratory droplets.

The researchers used an aerosol mixing chamber to produce particles ranging from 10 nm to 6 μm in diameter. A fan blew the aerosol across various cloth samples at an airflow rate corresponding to a person's respiration at rest, and the team measured the number and size of particles in air before and after passing through the fabric. One layer of a tightly woven cotton sheet combined with two layers of polyester-spandex chiffon—a sheer fabric often used in evening gowns—filtered out the most aerosol particles (80-99%, depending on particle size), with performance close to that of an N95 mask material. Substituting the chiffon with natural silk or flannel, or simply using a cotton quilt with cotton-polyester batting, produced similar results. The researchers point out that tightly woven fabrics, such as cotton, can act as a mechanical barrier to particles, whereas fabrics that hold a static charge, like certain types of chiffon and natural silk, serve as an electrostatic barrier. However, a 1% gap reduced the filtering efficiency of all masks by half or more, emphasizing the importance of a properly fitted mask.

Explore further

Neither surgical nor cotton masks effectively filter SARS-CoV-2

More information: "Aerosol Filtration Efficiency of Common Fabrics Used in Respiratory Cloth Masks" ACS Nano (2020). http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10 … 1021/acsnano.0c03252
Journal information: ACS Nano


Provided by American Chemical Society

A study looks at how to disinfect your mask at home
by Roland Yan, Steve Chillrud, Debra Magadini, and Beizhan Yan, Columbia University

A new study suggests that disposable surgical masks can be disinfected with heat multiple times without harming their effectiveness. A homemade plastic nose clip, used here, may add another layer of protection. Credit: Beizhan Yan

Due to the unknown numbers of asymptomatic people infected with the SARS-CoV-2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that all citizens wear face coverings when in public. More recently, some states have mandated face coverings. Many people are wearing homemade coverings, but these mandates potentially increase demand for medical face masks, exacerbating shortages for first responders and medical staff.

One way to to extend the supply of disposable masks is to disinfect them and reuse them. We have just published a paper in the Journal of the International Society for Respiratory Protection that looks into whether disposable masks can be disinfected by heating them without compromising their effectiveness. We also compared the effectiveness of medical-grade masks with homemade ones, and looked into the feasibility of improving masks with homemade nose clips.

Prior work by others on disinfection of disposable masks has shown that heating for 30 minutes at 158 degrees F (70 C) or above can effectively destroy SARS, influenza and the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. This can be done in a home oven. As such, we did no testing with viruses. Instead we focused on whether repeated heat disinfection affected how well the masks worked for removing particles in the same size range as coronavirus.
To do this, we put masks onto mannequin heads, and rigged the heads to "breathe" through their noses and mouths, using a vacuum pump. We then exposed the mannequins to black carbon (i.e, soot) from a kerosene lamp, which generates particles that overlap in size with those of the coronavirus. We determined filtration efficiency by comparing black-carbon levels on both sides of the masks worn by the mannequins. We did this with two brands of disposable N95 respirators and one brand of disposable surgical mask, as well as with one design of homemade face covering. We tried this out repeatedly, and in a variety of ways.

One of three homemade face coverings tested out by the researchers. The silicone headform was a donation from Joshua Turi. Credit: Beizhan Yan

First, to measure the maximum filtration efficiency and resilience of the disposable masks, each disposable mask type was tested while taped or modified to tightly fit a plastic mannequin's face when new, and again after each heating cycle. We found that one N95 brand (3M) and a surgical mask (HSl brand) stood up to the 10 cycles of heat disinfection and reuse, with no reduction in performance. Filtration efficiency was greater than 95 percent over all 10 cycles for N95 respirators, and greater than 70 percent for surgical masks. (In contrast, we found that the nose-pad of another N95 brand, the Moldex, was unable to withstand multiple cycles of being put on and off the mannequin, whether or not it was heated in between uses.)


These tests show the maximum filtration efficiency possible, but they are not representative of how people normally wear masks, where the fit can be much looser. So, for a second set of tests, we obtained a head form covered in soft silicone to mimic the pliability of the human face. We then assessed the effectiveness of the masks as they are commonly worn, by simply putting the elastic straps around the head or ears without additional tightening. As expected, the filtration efficiency of all the disposable masks decreased substantially, to around 40 percent. This confirms that the effectiveness of such masks relies upon a tight fit, and this may be hard for many people to achieve.

We also tested the filtration efficiency of three homemade cloth coverings made following instructions on the CDC website. We made one from a cotton dress, one from a cotton sweater, and the third from polyester cloth. All three were worn in a normal mode on the silicone head form as directed by the CDC. The filtration efficiency of the cotton homemade cloth coverings in normal use was 55 percent, while the polyester covering came in at near 40 percent—about the same as loosely fitted medical-grade masks. This suggests that homemade cotton masks might actually work better than loosely fitted disposable masks, while polyester might be about the same.

We heated up the homemade masks for disinfection, which appeared to not affect the filtration efficiency. The CDC recommends washing and drying such coverings at home and we anticipate negligible effects on efficiency from this as well. When disinfecting your masks at home, we recommend you to place masks in an oven bag or a pressure cooker during heating, rather than directly put masks inside of the oven (see the instruction video below for details).

Finally, to see if we could improve the fit for the public, we designed a process that uses heat-moldable plastic strips to make homemade customized nose clips molded to an individual's face. By adding the customized nose clip to a normally worn disposable mask on a silicone head form, the filtration efficiency of the 3M N95 returned to greater than 95 percent, and the filtration efficiency of the surgical masks was measured at 88 percent. The nose clips passed two five-hour wearing tests for comfort. But due to the use of heat moldable plastic, the customized nose clips cannot be disinfected with heat; rather, they must be disinfected by soaking in solutions of alcohol or bleach.

This work has certain limitations. For one, our tests were all done under static conditions at a constant flow rate of air similar to how an adult breathes when sitting. We did not take into account the increase in breathing, nor the reduction in fit that can occur when someone is talking or active.

Our study is just one of many looking into how masks may be disinfected and reused. Others have been carried out or are in progress using not only heat, but ultraviolet light, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, or soaking in ethyl alcohol or bleach solutions. Most of these are aimed at medical personnel using specialized equipment. The soaking methods have been shown to reduce the effectiveness of certain types of N95 masks. Ours is a relatively modest effort aimed at everyday usage. Far more work needs to be done, but everything we know so far suggests that wearing almost any kind of mask in public is better than nothing; that a tight fit is best; and that, with certain limits, many types of masks can be reused outside of medical settings.



Explore furtherFollow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

More information: Developing home-disinfection and filtration efficiency improvement methods for N95 respirators and surgical facial masks: stretching supplies and better protection during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of the International Society for Respiratory Protection. https://www.isrp.com/the-isrp- … 20-pp-19-35-yan/file

Provided by Columbia University

Warming climate undoes decades of knowledge of marine protected areas
by Lancaster University APRIL 24, 2020

A parrotfish feeding on degraded coral. Credit: Shaun Wilson, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions in Australia, and the University of Western Australia

Climate change and warming seas are transforming tropical coral reefs and undoing decades of knowledge about how to protect these delicate and vital ecosystems.


Many of the world's coral reefs are seeing biodiversity plunge in the face of repeated coral bleaching events.

Protected areas, called marine reserves, are an effective and long-established tool in the conservation toolbox. Marine reserves have been used for decades to enhance biodiversity and fish biomass by preventing damage and over-exploitation by fishing.

However, a new study highlights that tropical coral reef marine reserves can offer little defence in the face of climate change impacts. And the changes that are being observed will force scientists, conservationists and reserve managers to rethink the role these protected areas can bring.

"Climate change is so fundamentally changing the structure and composition of coral reef ecosystems, that the way the ecosystem functions and responds to common management and conservation approaches needs to be carefully re-evaluated," explains Professor Nick Graham of Lancaster University and lead author of the study. "The rules we have come to rely on, no longer apply."

Algal dominated reef in Seychelles. Credit: Nick Graham, Lancaster University

Bleaching occurs when seas become too warm, causing corals to expel their colourful algae. This disrupts the ecosystem and reduces the availability of food and shelter for many fish species.

Some coral reefs are able to recover over time, while others are transformed and become dominated by seaweed.

The new study, published in the journal Nature Communications, focused on reefs and marine reserves in Seychelles. Coral reefs in Seychelles were badly affected by a bleaching event in 1998, when around 90% of the coral died. Scientists used data from 21 reefs over a 20-year time period, spanning the 1998 bleaching event, to explore how reefs have changed and how this has affected the role of marine reserves.

Professor Graham explains: "Our long-term records of Seychelles' coral reefs show that before the bleaching event marine reserves contained high coral cover, a very biodiverse range of fish, and high biomass of carnivorous and herbivorous fish.


"Following the bleaching event, the role of the marine reserves changed substantially. They no longer supported higher coral cover compared to adjacent fished areas, and their role in enhancing biodiversity decreased. Plant-loving fish, such as rabbitfish and parrotfish, dominated fish communities. This was the case for reefs where corals were recovering, as well as reefs transformed and dominated by seaweed."

A recovering reef in Seychelles. Credit: Nick Graham, Lancaster University

Reduced numbers of carnivorous predators, such as grouper and snapper species, show reserves are much less effective at protecting the tops of food webs in the years following bleaching events. These population drops are likely due to fewer fish for them to prey on after the loss of coral reef structures.

Dr. Shaun Wilson, of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions in Western Australia, a co-author on the study, said: "Despite these climate-driven transformations, marine protected areas still have a role to play in ocean conservation. It is encouraging that marine reserves continue to protect some species, especially when these species are critical for local fisheries."

Gilberte Gendron of the Seychelles National Parks Authority, adds: "Although these reordered marine reserves are less biodiverse, they are still important to maintain. This is because, when compared to openly fished areas, they still protect higher levels of fish biomass of species that are important to our local fisheries. For example, the protected herbivorous fish can spill out into openly fished areas and help support adjacent fisheries."

If the goal is to protect biodiversity then it may be better to target new marine reserves around those coral reefs where the rate of warming is slowest, or those where recovery from bleaching is more likely.

While the scientists say marine reserves still have an important role to play in protecting fish biomass, they call in their paper for urgent reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as other pressures such as poor land practices that input nutrients and pollutants to coastal waters, to protect tropical coral reefs.

Explore furtherCan coral reefs 'have it all'?

More information: Changing Role of Coral Reef Marine Reserves in a Warming Climate, Nature Communications (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15863-z

Journal information: Nature Communications