Belgium: Government distributed masks withdrawn as a precaution

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25/02/2021
Brief
covid-19 masks nanosilver titanium dioxide biocide health precautionary principle risks

According to a report by the Belgian health institute Sciensano, the masks distributed by the Belgian government in 2020 contained silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles. On RTBF on February 23, two researchers from the Catholic University of Leuven explained why the inhalation of these nanomaterials should be avoided.

As a precautionary measure, authorities have recommended that they should no longer be distributed or worn, based on the opinion of the Conseil supérieur de la santé (CSS), which recommended “not using textiles containing titanium dioxide in the manufacture of oral masks” and “not using Avrox mask stocks”.

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