The Effects of Facemasks on Airway Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in Healthy Young Adults: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Crossover Study

摘要

Background Facemasks are increasingly worn during air pollution episodes in China, but their protective effects are poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate the filtration efficiencies of N95 facemasks and the cardiopulmonary benefits associated with wearing facemasks during episodes of pollution. Results We measured the filtration efficiencies of particles in ambient air of six types of reusable N95 facemasks. The most effective one was used in a double-blind, randomized, controlled crossover study, involving 15 healthy young adults, conducted during 2 days of severe pollution in Beijing, China. Subjects were asked to walk along a busy-traffic road for 2 hours wearing authentic or sham N95 facemasks. Clinical tests were performed four times to determine changes in the levels of biomarkers of airway inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and oxidative stress within 24 hours after exposure. The facemasks removed 48-75% of ambient air particles between 5.6 and 560 nm in diameter. After exposure, the exhaled nitric oxide level and the levels of interleukin-la, interleukin-1(5, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-a in exhaled breath condensate increased significantly in all subjects; however, the increases in those wearing authentic facemasks were statistically significantly lower than in the sham group. No significant between-group difference was evident in the urinary creatinine-corrected malondialdehyde level, augmentation pressure, or the augmentation index. Compared to the sham group, the ejection duration of subjects wearing authentic facemasks was higher after exposure. Conclusions In young healthy adults, N95 facemasks partially reduced acute particle-associated airway inflammation, but neither systemic oxidative stress nor endothelial dysfunction improved significantly.