Desenvolvimento de máscaras de tecido com elemento filtrante em celulose para resposta emergencial à Covid-19: acessibilidade e sustentabilidade em desastres

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic revealed structural weaknesses in healthcare systems and the global supply chain, exacerbating shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), especially face masks. This scenario compromised the safety of healthcare professionals and the general population, demanding effective emergency solutions that were both accessible and sustainable. Understanding this phenomenon in light of Ulrich Beck's Risk Society Theory, this study proposed the development of an innovative fabric mask model with a cellulose filter element (LisLu20®), conceived as a technological alternative to mitigate the risks associated with the biological disaster of COVID-19. The research explored not only the technical feasibility of the mask, but also the social and environmental impacts of this innovation in a context of great vulnerability and scarcity. General Objective: To develop a fabric mask model with a cellulose filter element, aimed at citizens, healthcare professionals, and vulnerable communities, as a strategy to mitigate the impacts of the biological disaster of COVID-19. Specific Objectives: To describe the challenges faced in the context of shortages of medical and hospital supplies, considering the impacts on human safety, sustainability, and risk management; to analyze the development process and effectiveness of masks as a sustainable technological alternative for healthcare professionals and vulnerable populations; and to discuss the social adoption of this technology, its media repercussions, and its alignment with sustainable practices and disaster risk management strategies. Methodology: The study used action research as a central approach, integrating scientific investigation and practical problem-solving in a collaborative, dynamic, and collective process involving healthcare professionals, hospital managers, and researchers from various institutions. The research began with the conception and development of prototypes of the LisLu20® mask, followed by technical refinements based on empirical tests. Laboratory validation included air permeability and physical barrier efficiency tests, conducted at an institution certified by regulatory agencies. The process also involved registering the trademark and intellectual property of the developed model, as well as the dissemination and distribution of the masks and methods of their artisanal production, aiming at large-scale applicability. To capture qualitative perceptions from participants, the World Café dynamic was used, applied in two distinct contexts: (1) hospital, in which managers and health professionals evaluated the usability of the developed masks; and (2) community, where seamstresses and others responsible for the production process discussed the challenges and impacts of production. The participants' discourses were processed using the IRaMuTeQ software, allowing for a detailed lexical analysis and the identification of emerging categories in light of Beck's Risk Society Theory. Results: Laboratory tests demonstrated that the LisLu20® masks showed satisfactory effectiveness as a physical barrier against suspended particles, combining safety, breathability, and low cost. The receptiveness of health professionals was positive, highlighting the comfort and viability of the model in situations of PPE shortage. Analysis of social perception revealed the potential of technology as a viable alternative for managing health crises. Furthermore, the dissemination of the study on social media, events, academic websites, and in the press consolidated its pertinence and relevance as an innovative proposal in addressing the pandemic. Conclusions: The development of the LisLu20® mask proved to be an innovative, accessible, and sustainable solution, demonstrating applicability in both hospital response and community protection. Faced with the global shortage of PPE, the technology emerged as an effective strategy to mitigate risks in public health emergencies and biological disasters. The results reinforce the understanding that the pandemic was not only a health crisis but also a socio-technical and political phenomenon in which uncertainties and impacts were unequally distributed. The case of the mask shortage during COVID-19 illustrates this dynamic, demonstrating how dependence on global supply chains amplified vulnerabilities and reinforced inequalities in access to essential resources. Furthermore, the action-research strategies undertaken in this study attest to the importance of universities and collaborative networks for scientific production, as well as the relevance of developing local, low-cost, and socially engaged technologies to strengthen the resilience of populations in the face of global disasters and uncertainties.