People in poor countries cannot afford to purchase facemasks. Some tribal and rural people living in remote locations currently uses masks made of plant leaves as an alternative. Would facemasks made of green leaves provide some help against the coronavirus (COVID-19)? if yes, is there any scientific evidence for it? Please include any references if any such as weblink or URL
Masks made of leaves for protection against COVID-19 infection or spread. Why not, with certain precautions. SAFETY FIRST!
Any material covering the nose and mouth may be protective against COVID-19 or any other droplet infection. These masks can be any material including mask made of leaves.
These include surgical masks (disposable after use), home-made cloth masks (reusable after disinfection and washing), and N95 masks by health care workers (in high risk situations like ICU or during exposure to aerosol with other PPE), or any other cover like any cloth, scarf, or any other barrier (paper towel, tissues) can be used. Preferably, such material should not cause health hazard and should be sufficiently porous to allow breathing.
Masks made of leaves are acceptable for one time use for a short period only.
However, they would cause suffocation, and can tear down on longer use, and it is difficult to put an elastic to keep them in place.
This is a very good idea. This is environment friendly too. Before use, it should be cleaned properly to remove dust and other plant infections. I did not find any link related to scientific evidence for it, but it can be an alternative solution for mask crisis. The con is people might not inhale properly since it does not have filters.
DearDr.
To answer that, it helps to clarify which kinds of masks we're talking ...
Mali S, Pratap A, Thorat B. The Rise of New Coronavirus Infection-(COVID-19): A Recent Update. EJMO. 2020; 4(1): 35-41
People have been creative with various face masks to keep them safe from COVID-19 (though their safety and performance are questionable or unknown). i. from Sal tree leaves (Shorea robusta) (leaves are 10–25 cm long); ii.from cabbage leaves; iii. from the used plastic water jug, plastic bottles, plastic bags, plastic food containers
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/17/world/gallery/creative-face-masks-trnd/index.html
https://krishijagran.com/news/sal-leaves-as-face-mask-in-mundigarh-village-kandhamal-orissa/
Maybe a temporary alternative when somebody has no other resource; will merely cover the face (nose+mouth) by a flexible/malleable but non-porous biological sheet. Problem is: there is no filter.
I think that it is possible to make a face mask from plant leaves or algae. It can inhibit the virus according to the contrast in the chemical composition of both. The plants may contain an effective substance against viral proteins.
great idea. It is environmentally friendly and clean but needs deep study
You have to find a mean of filtration, not for the virus itself, since is too small, but the droplets that produce a normal conversation, or sneeze. If these droplets contain the virus, they can get into our body through the mouse, nose, or eyes. I do not think that green leaves can produce such filtration, since the air will squeeze through the side of the leaves, in order for you to breath. Never the less keep thinking for new alternative.
Dear Golam Kibria , great question and can be viewed in different ways. Some times face-masks made of green leaves may be an effective solution to combat against COVID but it must be discovered by undergoing many experiments. Apart from that, people of poor countries, they can't afford to buy surgical masks, due to the high cost. Therefore, either it should be distributed face masks freely or there must be any other solution to protect them.
In my view, though the leaves will stop the droplets, they will ultimately flow down and may reach to your skin from where they may spread via your hands....just a speculation.