TYPES OF FACE MASK
Amongst all the myths & confusing contradictions about masks, how can we get the true facts & choose the best one to protect ourselves from Coronavirus?
We studied many articles by infection prevention experts on face masks & below are our key findings.
A British Medical Journal study dated 9 April 2020 suggests that a huge proportion of Coronavirus transmission (40–80%) stems from people showing no signs or symptoms of it. So we must select the correct type of mask to protect ourselves when out in public. Below are the options available to us.
1. Respirator Mask
Respirators are tight fitting masks, designed to create a facial seal.
Non-valved respirators provide good two-way protection, by filtering both inflow and outflow of air.
Respirators are designed protect the wearer, up to the safety rating of the mask.
2. Surgical Mask
Surgical masks are loose fitting, covering the nose & mouth.
Surgical masks are designed for one-way protection, to capture bodily fluid leaving the wearer, e.g. during surgery to prevent coughing or sneezing on the vulnerable patient.
Contrary to popular belief, surgical masks are NOT designed to protect the wearer.
3. Cloth Face Covering
Coverings protect people nearby from your large liquid droplets if you cough or sneeze.
Coverings do NOT protect you, the wearer, from small liquid droplets or particles in the air.
Coverings can be made at home using a variety of fabrics, e.g. scarves, bandanas, t-shirts, pillowcases; a tightly woven cotton fabric is most suitable.
The info in this section is quoted from a ‘Medical News Today’ article dated 28 May 2020:
“Different Types of Face Mask to Use During the Covid-19 Pandemic”
To see the full webpage, click here: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/types-of-face-mask
- A surgical mask is a single-use device that protects against liquid infectious agents transmitted by droplets (saliva or secretions from the upper respiratory system when exhaling).
- A surgical mask protects the wearer from fluid splashes, but not from ‘airborne’ infectious agents, so it will not prevent the wearer from being contaminated by Coronavirus.
- A respirator can be reusable or disposable (check description), & prevents the wearer from inhaling dust, smoke, mist (aerosols) or gases that are health hazards.
- It protects the wearer from airborne infectious agents, i.e. it protects against contamination by Coronavirus.
The info in this section is quoted from a ‘Medical Expo’ article dated 28 February 2020:
“Which Masks Actually Protect Against Coronavirus?”
To see the full webpage, click here: http://emag.medicalexpo.com/which-masks-actually-protect-against-coronavirus/
To see WHO’s comparison of respirator masks & surgical masks, click below:
To see HSE’s comparison of respirators & surgical masks, click below:
To view CDC’s comparison of respirators & surgical masks, click below:
The Coronavirus is estimated to be 0.06 to 0.14 microns in diameter.
Respirator masks are graded by their filtering of such tiny airborne particles…
| FFP1: | minimum 80% filtering
(max. 22% air leakage to inside) ~ Mainly used as a dust mask |
|---|---|
| FFP2 (or N95/ KN95): | minimum 94% filtering
(max. 8% air leakage to inside) ~ Currently used for protection against Coronavirus |
| FFP3 (or N99/ KN99) | minimum 99% filtering
(max. 2% air leakage to inside) ~ Protects against very fine particles such as asbestos |
FFP respirators filter particles of less than 0.3 microns. These are the hardest particles to filter due to their Brownian Motion, pinballing erratically between molecules in the air (nitrogen, oxygen, etc).
Image of Coronavirus vs other particles...
To see Smart Air’s article “Can Masks Capture Coronavirus Particles?” click below:
Respirator masks of Europe grade “FFP2” (standard: EN149-2001), which filter at least 94% of tiny airborne particles, are widely accepted as equivalent to…
| USA grade: | “N95” | (standard: NIOSH-42CFR84), |
|---|---|---|
| China grade | “KN95” | (standard: GB2626-2006/2019). |
According to 3M:
“It is reasonable to consider China KN95 as similar to US N95 & European FFP2 respirators, for filtering non-oil-based particles such as those resulting from… bioaerosols (e.g. viruses)” .
The above quote is taken from 3M’s technical bulletin dated May 2020:
“Comparison of FFP2, KN95 & N95 Respirator Classes”
To view the full bulletin, click below:
- A face shield is a piece of rigid clear plastic attached to a headband, which covers your face to below the chin.
- Medical staff wear a shield over their respirator mask for extra protection against Covid-19.
- When in public places where physical distancing is not possible, wearing a face shield over our mask provides additional protection.
The info above is extracted from a ‘Johns Hopkins Medicine’ article dated 17 June 2020:
“Coronavirus Face Masks & Protection”
To view the full article, click here: www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-face-masks-what-you-need-to-know
