Many people in health care use respiratory protection in their daily work to protect themselves from the infection. But now, Work and Environmental Medicine in Linköping warns of combon beard and respiratory mask.

"It is a known phenomenon that beards and hair loops minimize the protective effect," says Bengt Ståhlbom, head of occupational and environmental medicine in Linköping.

Protection is reduced by 90 percent

The protective masks contain a filter that you breathe through, it acts as an air resistance.

- Beard stubble or hair loops can cause a slip, and the air then passes through it instead of through the filter, says Bengt Ståhlbom, adding that the protection then decreases sharply, can decrease by 90 percent.

Environmental hygienists in occupational and environmental medicine now warn of facial hair in connection with the use of protective mask.

- I think there is ignorance of this and it is important to know that the effects of the filters are greatly reduced, it works with a small mustach or beard plant that sits inside the mask, says Bengt Ståhlbom.

Occupational and environmental medicine is part of Linköping University and the Östergötland Region.

Map of beard types highlighted which are suitable (green) and unsuitable (red) to have in connection with the use of respiratory protection. Photo: The map with beard types is published by NIOSH (National Institute of Safety and Health), USA.