A study which generated controversy by suggesting that masks may harm children through exposure to high carbon dioxide levels was retracted on Friday.
The research letter released in JAMA Pediatrics on June 30 had reported finding in a lab environment unacceptably high levels of CO2 by German standards in air inside masks worn by children.
The journal editors cited “numerous scientific issues” in the retraction notice, which also included questions over the applicability of the CO2 measurement device and the validity of the study’s conclusions.
“In their invited responses to these and other concerns, the authors did not provide sufficiently convincing evidence to resolve these issues, as determined by editorial evaluation and additional scientific review,” the notice read. “Given fundamental concerns about the study methodology, uncertainty regarding the validity of the findings and conclusions, and the potential public health implications, the editors have retracted this Research Letter.”
The study drew prompt criticism following its publication. Joseph Allen, MPH, DSc, who studies the impact of carbon dioxide on human health at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, described the study as “terribly flawed”, predicting its retraction on Twitter. He pointed out that the study made no account of the flood of air taken in when children inhale, his key complaint.
The US Centers for Disease Control do not list any known risk wearing facing masks poses to children, and in fact, recently recommended that unvaccinated children wear masks when school reopen later this year. A previous study with adult volunteers had shown short-term but acceptable rises in CO2 when wearing masks,
While many areas of the US have dropped mask mandates, Los Angeles is reinstating its indoor mask mandate regardless of vaccination status as COVID cases and hospitalisations rise, presumably due to the spread of the Delta variant.
Source: MedPage Today
