The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended the use of well-fitting masks by the public to enhance source control and mitigate the airborne transmission of viral particles. In recent years, low-cost sensors have been widely studied due to their affordability, compact size, and moderate measurement accuracy. This study examines cost-effective methods for evaluating mask barrier efficacy across different mask types and breathing rates by quantifying the outward leakage of particulate matter within the fine particle size range. 3-ply disposable surgical masks and an N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirator (FFR) were selected. Outward leakage data were collected using a low-cost PM sensor (Alphasense, OPC-N3) and a TSI Portacount Pro (TSI, 8038) as a reference. Preliminary results indicated that both devices effectively measure particle concentrations and detect outward leakage across different mask types, demonstrating their potential for assessing mask performance in real-world settings.
