"It's good news for sustainability," said lead author Marina Vance, assistant professor in the Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering. "That cotton mask that you have been washing, drying and reusing? It's probably still fine—don't throw it away."

The study, published in the journal Aerosol and Air Quality Research, also confirms previous research that layering a cotton mask on top of a surgical mask—properly fit on one's face—provides more protection than cloth alone.

Science for sustainability

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