I’ve heard a lot of anti-maskers use the argument that since we breathe out CO2, it will become trapped in the mask and is dangerous to breathe back in.
Obviously, this isn’t the case, because doctors wear their masks for hours and hours on end while doing surgeries. However, I am wondering, how does it work?
In: Biology
>I’ve heard a lot of anti-maskers use the argument that since we breathe out CO2, it will become trapped in the mask and is dangerous to breathe back in.
>Obviously, this isn’t the case, because doctors wear their masks for hours and hours on end while doing surgeries. However, I am wondering, how does it work?
1. You’re wearing a mask, not exhaling into a balloon. There is no space for anything to accumulate. Perhaps a couple of milliliters of space where the mask isn’t pressed too tightly against your skin? A typical breath will contain upwards of [500ml of air](http://www.e-breathing.com/normal-respiratory-rate-volume-chart/).
2. You don’t exhale CO2. You exhale regular air with [a concentration of oxygen that’s a bit lower and a concentration of CO2 that’s a bit higher](https://byjus.com/biology/composition-gases-breathe/).
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