URGENT: Health Canada Issues Advisory Over Masks Containing Graphene

Health Canada has issued an advisory and asked distributors to recall face masks that contain graphene or biographene, citing potential inhalation risks, reports CP24.

In an advisory released Friday, the agency said there is a “potential that wearers could inhale graphene particles from some masks, which may pose health risks.”

Health Canada said graphene is a novel nanomaterial — a material made of tiny particles — that is reported to have antiviral and antibacterial properties.

“Health Canada conducted a preliminary scientific assessment after being made aware that masks containing graphene have been sold with COVID-19 claims and used by adults and children in schools and daycares,” the advisory reads.

Masks containing graphene may have also been distributed in health-care settings, the agency said.

Health Canada said its “preliminary assessment” found that graphene particles had “some potential to cause early lung toxicity in animals.”

“However, the potential for people to inhale graphene particles from face masks and the related health risks are not yet known, and may vary based on mask design,” the advisory reads. “The health risk to people of any age is not clear.”

Below are examples of masks containing graphene.

Graphene is nanotechnology. It is a  form of carbon that consists of nanoscopically thin flakes of hexagonally-arranged carbon atoms.

-RW