Brigham And Women’s Doctor: It’s Safe To Wear Masks While Exercising

BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — On social media last week, many people started expressing concerns about wearing a mask while exercising after the statewide face covering mandate went into effect.

Critics say they are concerned about carbon dioxide build-up while wearing masks. However, Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, chief of the division of infectious diseases at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said it is not really an issue.

“People really don’t need to be concerned about carbon dioxide build-up,” Dr. Kuritzkes said.

He said this applies to both surgical masks and face coverings.

“Those masks are really quite permeable and they’re certainly far from air tight. And there’s ample gas exchange that occurs that allows the carbon dioxide to diffuse away,” Dr. Kuritzkes said.

He said gas molecules have no problem escaping, but virus molecules are a million times larger and the moisture it’s in is caught by the mask, thus mitigating the spread.

WBZ NewsRadio's James Rojas (@JamesRojasWBZ) reports

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(Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio)


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