A confidential report from Sciensano, the Belgian Institute for Public Health has shown that 15 million fabric masks that were given to pharmacists by the Belgian government in the summer of 2020 may have been toxic. UNN’s Oliver Down understands that the face masks in question were manufactured in Asia by a Luxembourg-based company named Avrox. The report has stated that they may have contained nanoparticles of silver and titanium dioxide that when inhaled could cause damage to the respiratory tract.
Alfred Bernard, who is a toxicologist, has said: “Sooner or later you can ingest these nanoparticles, especially if the mask is washed and worn regularly. They can easily end up in the lungs and blood”. The company involved, Avrox has responded to this report via a press release that has urged against draw conclusions at this stage. The press release says: “These are the first results of the first phase of a study, and it is important to interpret them with caution. Based on the current data, it cannot be determined whether these nanoparticles actually come out of the masks and to what extent the users are exposed to them”.
In addition to this, UNN’s Oliver Down has learnt that this isn’t the first time Avrox has come under fire. Concerns on these masks emerged last June when the Belgian government was distributing them for free to pharmacists, but at this time Avrox insisted the face masks met all international standards. Avrox is run by two French nationals, with one being a former football agent and the other an ex-restaurateur. In addition to this, the main shareholder is a Jordanian millionaire with an address in Malta, a holding company located in the Cayman Islands as well as a firm that finances film projects in the US.
Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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