Long term surgical mask use effects?

[yearnewwhatever]

I'm full time NHS worker so in surgical masks about 7 hours a day, 5 days a week. I'm starting to notice some effects such as super dry mouth / throat, voice loss, burning, tight, wheezy upper airway and a facial rash.

I've had these in fits and starts since mask wearing began but over the last few months it's getting worse and becoming quite painful - particularly the upper airway issues. It improves at weekends and is much better when I had a week off but comes back as soon as I'm in masks. I drink litres of water daily to try and help - but it doesn't.

I'm starting to wonder what the long terms effects of extended surgical mask wearing are? What are we breathing in off these masks?

Disclaimer - obviously this doesn't stop me wearing, covid is the greater harm currently.

Similar to surgeons who must wear them for many hours at a time in normal times?

That was kind of my question I suppose - what are the known side effects? Surgeons are possibly the only group who would know?

That said, the surgical masks we wear now aren't the ones you wear in theatre exactly. Ours are thin, flimsy, smell funny and come in a cardboard box from China. They don't look terribly sterile.

They're not supposed to be sterile are they?

Interesting point OP. I am no expert in any of it and I only wear a multilayer fabric mask but I had a quick Google and it appears that surgical masks contain electret, which apparently is electrically charged layer that is intended to attract certain particles rather than let them pass through.
When I worn a bluish surgical mask, I noticed how much more breathable it was vs my thick fabric one so I am thinking that masks filter out particles of certain charge and let in neutral air or particles of opposite sign.

I never tried dismantling one to see what's inside..

I have had a FFP3 mask on all day today apart from 45 minutes at lunchtime.
I am shattered and have a headache. Also feel very dehydrated, despite a litre of water at lunch.
I can cope as I only do this 1 day a week.
I wear a IIR mask all day Tuesday and feel absolutely fine then.

I wear an FFP2 mask for about 8 hours/day, 5 days a week. I notice I dehydrate more quickly, as you no doubt noticed too, but drinking lots helped me. No wheezing or breathing issues at all. Face rash - not exactly, but I had some mini breakouts. I just take a moment during the day to wash my lower face and moisturise. It helps.

Hope you feel better soon! I know it's not fun.

I guess they stop the moisture in the air getting in, that could cause a dry mouth and throat but if you're wheezy with a tight chest perhaps you are allergic to something, have you spoken to a doctor, occy health or infection control to see if there is an alternative you can use. Thin flimsy boxed masks dont sound like full protection masks, what environment do you work in.

Thin flimsy masks is all there is everywhere in our hospital! Baggy ear elastic that breaks, ill fitting, poor nose wire seal etc. I just assumed it was normal. They come in cardboard boxes from China 🤷‍♀️. Sometimes they are in a plastic bag as well but not always.

I haven't seen anyone about it as I assumed it was normal. Everyone I work with is having some symptoms in some form. Also worsening with time.

I was more concerned about long term effects of usage. Especially as I can see the NHS may implement mask wearing long term.

But now you've said about allergies maybe I should get that checked out!

They aren’t sterile.

Many people in my line of work wear them all day every day for years with no problem - but they are in well ventilated rooms so they don’t get too stuffy. I suspect it may be the general environment that’s the problem, not the mask per se.

Tie a knot in the ear loop before putting them on to get a better fit. I have a ridiculously small head and they would swing beneath my chin if I didn’t do this.

This is from the USA and from last year but I found it interesting (with the usual "Dr Google" and "my friend's sister's cat says..." caveats!)

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7362770/