A method to visualize and quantify "aerosols" of outward leakage around the perimeter of barrier masks

Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, several strategies have been proposed to reduce its transmission, from social distancing, regularly disinfecting items and hands, and wearing barrier masks. Guidelines and standardization propose certain tests for the filtration of the masks, or visual inspections to check the materials. However, no standards exist to tests the outward leakage through the face seal perimeter of the masks. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a method to visualize and quantify respiratory droplets, simulated by ‘mist’, exhaled by a mask wearer.
A setup was developed with fluorescent ink, UV lights, background subtraction, to highlight the mist and its footage. Mist was quantified with a software, and one-way ANOVAs and t-tests were conducted on the means, to assess the reliability of the method. The results of the statistical tests suggest that the method is reliable to visualize and quantify the mist.