There is a growing pile of research on how face masks are ineffective against flu, become easily contaminated (to the detriment of the user), may exacerbate odds of transmission (the opposite of the stated purpose), serve almost no medical benefit, and may cause serious harm to the wearer.
A number of physical complications can result from even short-term use of medical masks. Hypoxia and co2 poisoning are but two of the more common dilemmas. Inhaled fibers can result in chronic or terminal lung disease.
Related: Top Health Officials in Europe: “Masks Aren’t Helpful in Beating COVID-19”
And then there’s the fact that every time I write the word face mask, I hear Tony Fauci say it in that weird little gravely accent of his.
And now, new research suggests an increased risk of cancer from wearing them.
Although titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a suspected human carcinogen when inhaled, fiber-grade TiO2 (nano)particles were demonstrated in synthetic textile fibers of face masks intended for the general public. STEM-EDX analysis on sections of a variety of single use and reusable face masks visualized agglomerated near-spherical TiO2 particles in non-woven fabrics, polyester, polyamide and bi-component fibers.
The authors of this paper are not your typical highly credentialed medical professionals with years of experience who happen to disagree with the Public Health Industrial Complex. Their abstract states, “The importance of wearing face masks against COVID-19 is unquestionable.”
But mask wearing is not just questionable; it is suspect, even by the NIH, CDC, and WHO, so I imagine an earnest discussion about publishing science that could end not just their grants but conjure up a mob led by lab-coat-wearing “experts” come to excommunicate them from their profession.
Deniers!
We need to give them something, they said. Let’s say masks are indispensable. That should do it. And then we get into the whole, could cause cancer thing.
Even so, these results urge for in depth research of (nano)technology applications in textiles to avoid possible future consequences caused by a poorly regulated use and to implement regulatory standards phasing out or limiting the amount of TiO2 particles, following the safe-by-design principle.
You can crawl through the jargon here, but the verdict is this. About 70% of all face masks – and who wants to bet 100% of them from China have “TiO2 in quantities ranging from 100 to 2000 mg kg−12. ”
In addition, to introduce new solutions to the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, textile companies are incorporating specific nanofiber, nanocomposite and nanoparticle technology into face masks5,6. Nanofibers containing TiO2 nanoparticles have been produced to create antimicrobial filters7, also in combination with silver8 and graphene9.
Nearly three-quarters of all facemasks will likely have some quantity of potentially cancerous nanoparticles that could be inhaled during use.
Reusing or constantly touching or adjusting that mask, or taking it on and off, say, in a pandemic-era restaurant experience, would likely increase the odds these particles get inhaled. Inhale enough of them, and you increase the risk of cancer.
Two points in closing.
The experts forced kids who were not a vector for the Wuhan Flu to wear these things all day. I understand that medical professionals are required to discard and replace them if touched after being placed over the mouth and nose. Children fidget with them all day.
Next, the potential cancer risk from PFAS in a few local water supplies was enough to produce public outrage and legislation to test and filter everyone’s water statewide.
Before you mandate them again, what are you prepared to do about the potential cancer risk posed by 70% of all facemasks?
