CO2 levels inside face masks DO reach dangerous levels - a new study, May 2022

A new study out of Italy has been published this month (pre-print), showing that CO2 levels inside both surgical masks and N95-type masks exceed the OSHA-recommended safe levels.

Masks are bad for your health. They just are. Nobody should be forced to wear them, least of all schoolchildren.

Here are the CO2 levels (parts per million (ppm)) and associated health problems, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the USA:

So, anything above 5,000 ppm is considered the exposure limit. Here's what the study found:

For surgical masks, the average CO2 concentration was just under 5,000 ppm, with 40% of participants experiencing levels above that.

For FFP2 masks, the average CO2 concentration was over 9,000 ppm, with 99% of participants experiencing levels above that.

For children, who have higher rates of breathing than adults, the average CO2 concentration with FFP2 masks was over 12,800 ppm and for some went above 15,000 ppm.

Head to the 'MASKS' page for more information on why masks are hopeless at preventing viral infection and why healthy people shouldn't go anywhere near them.

Masks: surgical and FFP2