People are buying face masks in a panic due to rising air pollution levels and the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak. However, the majority of consumers are unaware of the mask they are purchasing or its level of efficacy. Therefore, we will compare the most common face mask kinds in this post and let you know their advantages and disadvantages. We’ll also talk about whether wearing these masks will be useful for the COVID-19 epidemic. So, the various mask types that are on the market now, along with their features, are listed below.
What Air Pollution Face Masks You Should Buy
Let’s first talk about what we mean by air pollution masks and how they function before we get started.
What are Face Masks and How They Work?
As the name says, face masks cover your lips and nose. When you breathe through the masks, they remove contaminants. ensuring that the air you are inhaling is clean and pure. The majority of air pollution masks include several layers. Each layer is made to stop a certain type of pollution. These are the top three filters:
- Primary filter It s the outer-layer. Its work is to stop all the large particles such as dust and pollen. While it can stop PM10 particulate matter, it cannot remove PM2.5.
- Particle filter The second layer is the particle filter. It s there to stop the smaller pollutants such as PM2.5.
- Carbon filter Some high-end pollution masks also contain an activated carbon filter that filters out the gaseous pollutants that cannot be trapped by either primary or particle filter.
Particulate matter with a size of 10 microns or 2.5 microns is referred to as PM10 or PM2.5. These tiny particles can easily travel through our nasal passages and build in our lungs, causing breathing difficulties, asthma attacks, and even chronic heart and lung ailments because they linger in the air for such a long period. From the US EPA
As a result, the level of protection you receive from your face mask will vary based on the filter layers. Additionally, air purifiers are a far better choice than face masks when used at home. Knowing how air pollution masks function today, let’s move on to the different types of masks.
Types of Air Pollution Face Masks
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Surgery Masks (Face Masks)
Most people utilise basic face masks called “surgery masks” (see picture below). Surgery masks are frequently produced in various thicknesses and are solely intended to shield you from liquid and contact. They act as a protective shield between your mouth, nose, and the outside world. When worn correctly, a decent surgery mask can assist prevent the spread of germs by preventing drips, splashes, and splatter.
It can only do that, though. It is unable to stop air contaminants such PM particles and gaseous pollutants or smaller sneeze-related particles. Wearing these masks is therefore absurd. They merely give the impression of protection. The fact that we purchase over-the-counter masks without any basic tests makes this even more accurate.
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N95 Air Masks
The fundamental air pollution masks that are recommended for use by everyone are N95 masks. 95% of all air pollutants, including certain PM2.5 pollutants, may be filtered by it. However, this will not shield you from oil-based contaminants. These masks have the advantage of being machine washable and lasting six months before needing to be replaced. N95 masks come in a variety of styles. Choose a mask with a separate air valve for exhaled air when purchasing for this mask. By doing this, condensation and lens fogging will be avoided.
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N99 and N100 masks
These are high-end masks that have 99% and 99.97% efficiency in filtering particles like PM2.5. For residents of heavily polluted places like New Delhi, they are fantastic. Purchase at least the N95 mask if you can’t find the others. Also, keep in mind that these masks, like N95, are ineffective against oil-based contaminants.
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P95 Masks
The P95 masks should be purchased if you desire complete protection. The P-series and N-series masks are fundamentally different from one another in that the former can block oil-based contaminants while the later cannot. This also means that P95 masks are expensive, difficult to find, and need to be replaced after only 40 hours of use. Because of this, it is not advised to use these masks on a daily basis and they are only intended for industrial use.
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R95 Masks
Between the N-series and P-series of masks is the R-series. They are not oil proof like the P-series masks, unlike N-series masks, but they are oil resistant. R95 can thereby eliminate some oil-based contaminants and 95% of particle matter.
These are the primary types of masks. You might have noticed that the numbers and letters in the mask’s name stand for particular properties. I’ve broken everything down into clear explanations in the table below.
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| N | Not Oil Resistant (Only stops Airborne Particulate) |
| R | Oil Resistant (Stops Airborne Particulate as well as oil-based pollutants to some extent) |
| P | Oil Proof (Stops Airborne Particulate as well as oil-based pollutants ) |
| 95 | Stops 95% of Airborne Particles |
| 99 | Stops 99% of Airborne Particles |
| 100 | Stops 99.99% of Airborne Particles |
These are the several sorts of masks you may purchase to protect yourself from air pollution. If you don’t remember the many sorts of masks, just keep in mind the table; it will help you identify the mask you are purchasing.
Can The Face Masks Protect You Against COVID-19
Whether these masks can shield a person from COVID-19 is one of the most common queries I have heard. The quick answer is no, of course. Since tiny droplets released when sneezing cannot be stopped by surgery masks, you can still breathe them in and catch COVID-19 while wearing the mask, as I indicated before.
But what about masks for air pollution? The problem is that COVID-19 spreads not only from person to person but also from surface to person. Therefore, the virus will stay attached to your mask even if it can stop the infection from entering your lungs when you breathe it in (a big if). And if you touch the mask, it will transfer to your hands and then, if you touch your face, it will travel from your hands to your face.
Use hand sanitizer or wash your hands whenever you touch your mask to be extra cautious. Because of this, if you want to protect yourself, isolation is still a better choice. If you already have COVID-19, using a mask can help you prevent further infection. But once more, the best course of action is to quarantine yourself and get medical attention.
Choose the Best Air Pollution Mask for You
I sincerely hope that this post has assisted you in your search for the greatest air pollution face mask that money can buy. Keep in mind that simply masks cannot shield you from COVID-19. You will also need to exercise all other safety measures. Hand washing and self-isolation are the best options. Ask your questions in the comments section below if you are still unclear, and I will respond.
