MadAsAHatter
Well-known member
I see what you were trying to go for, but unfortunately that's not a very good analogy given either the type of mask or the context one would wear it.
Except for the surgeon which I've already discussed, the other examples have built in mechanisms that would prevent the wearer from rebreathing their exhalation. A racing helmet has a forced air system that well... forces air across their face. Very similar to a PAPR. A motorcycle helmet also forces air across the riders face via vents across the nose and mouth area, just in a different mechanical way. Astronauts are fed oxygen while wearing the helmet. You should also note that in those three examples the helmet is not in direct contact with the wearer's face like a mask, surgical or otherwise. Along with the built in mechanisms this provides enough extra room for any exhalation to not be trapped near the face to be breathed back in.
Along with this the extra room and forced air mechanisms in place would expel any incoming particulates, for example aerosols containing bacteria and viruses, or the pathogen itself from entering the wearers body. Similar to a PAPR.
In the instance of a surgical mask, it's the clean environment that would help prevent and airborne pathogens from entering the body. The surgeon would be more at risk from bloodborne pathogens within the patient.
No, I'm not disputing your claim that rebreathing your own exhalation would cause a bacterial infection. A bacterial infection would not just appear in your breath out of nowhere. You'd have to be infected already or it come from an outside source. Rebreathing your own exhalation already containing a pathogen may exacerbate your infection by reintroducing the infection and/or strengthening the viral load. I'm just saying your analogy is flawed and in essence doesn't make much sense in this given context.
Except for the surgeon which I've already discussed, the other examples have built in mechanisms that would prevent the wearer from rebreathing their exhalation. A racing helmet has a forced air system that well... forces air across their face. Very similar to a PAPR. A motorcycle helmet also forces air across the riders face via vents across the nose and mouth area, just in a different mechanical way. Astronauts are fed oxygen while wearing the helmet. You should also note that in those three examples the helmet is not in direct contact with the wearer's face like a mask, surgical or otherwise. Along with the built in mechanisms this provides enough extra room for any exhalation to not be trapped near the face to be breathed back in.
Along with this the extra room and forced air mechanisms in place would expel any incoming particulates, for example aerosols containing bacteria and viruses, or the pathogen itself from entering the wearers body. Similar to a PAPR.
In the instance of a surgical mask, it's the clean environment that would help prevent and airborne pathogens from entering the body. The surgeon would be more at risk from bloodborne pathogens within the patient.
No, I'm not disputing your claim that rebreathing your own exhalation would cause a bacterial infection. A bacterial infection would not just appear in your breath out of nowhere. You'd have to be infected already or it come from an outside source. Rebreathing your own exhalation already containing a pathogen may exacerbate your infection by reintroducing the infection and/or strengthening the viral load. I'm just saying your analogy is flawed and in essence doesn't make much sense in this given context.
