RETRACTED: Small study suggests facemasks increase the amount of CO2 children inhale

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-07-01 13:00

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***THIS PAPER HAS NOW BEEN RETRACTED BY THE JOURNAL****European scientists tested the amount of CO₂ inhaled by 45 healthy children aged between six and 17 with and without facemasks, and say the masks increase the amount of CO₂ inhaled. This is because exhaled air, which is high in CO₂, gets stuck in the mask, and is re-inhaled when a child breathes in again, they say. They also found the effect was more pronounced in younger kids, and warn it could lead to a build-up of CO₂ in children's blood, a condition called hypercapnia, which can make it hard to breathe. The scientists suggest children should not be made to wear facemasks.

Media release

From: JAMA

Assessing Carbon Dioxide in Air With or Without Face Masks in Children

This randomized clinical trial measured inhaled and exhaled carbon dioxide in children with and without face masks.

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Research JAMA, Web page RETRACTION NOTICE

Journal/
conference: JAMA Pediatrics

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Poznan University of the Medical Sciences, Poland

Funder: Mediziner und Wissenschaftler für Gesundheit, Freiheit und Demokratie eV, a public charity, has organized this study and covered only essential expenses, such as travel.

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