COVID-19 pandemic has made wearing face masks imperative to safeguard not just us but others around us too. However, the masks that claim to be N95 in India might not be as effective as we want them to be.?
This is according to a report by the Wire, where Arnab Bhattacharya, a physicist at Tata Institute Of Fundamental Research has discovered that most N95 respirators that tout to prevent 95 percent airborne droplets/particles larger than 0.3 microns from entering.?
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To test the effectiveness of the face masks, they used an air-pollution monitor and first got a baseline from renowned N95 mask makers like 3M and Magnum which showed their efficacy.?
As soon as they switched to some other branded masks that claimed to be N95, those masks could only filter 60 to 80 percent of 0.3-micron particles.?
This means while it is capable of filtering bacteria, they¡¯re not capable of filtering out viruses.?This can very well put several healthcare workers wearing these masks in grave danger.?
Most of these mask makers were falsely advertising their N95 status. Bhattacharya highlighted that even reusable masks were claiming to be N95 which according to him was unlikely as these masks use electrostatic charge that traps small particles, and washing it would get rid of that charge entirely, making them even less effective.?
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A study from a few weeks ago showed that some generic face masks were using formaldehyde, among other harmful chemicals for bringing the fresh new fragrance.?
These masks also had traces of aniline, which is a known, harmful carcinogen. Some masks also found traces of harmful fluorocarbons. Experts have warned that wearing the masks close to the nose and mouth for extended periods of time definitely impacts the level of exposure.?
With the study, scientists ask for regularisation of standards for the general public like medical-grade PPE.?
You¡¯d be wondering that this issue is isolated to India, but surprisingly that¡¯s not the case. Just yesterday, US Customs and Border Protection officers at the Houston Seaport confiscated a shipment of counterfeit N95 masks originating from China.?
These masks had fake markings for NIOSH (US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). In fact, since January, the Houston Seaport has seized 2.1 million counterfeit PPE masks.?Surprisingly, only 365,000 fake masks were seized all of 2020.?
Another report by CNBC revealed that the Department of Homeland Security in the US, until February 2021 managed to seize over 11 million fake 3M N95 masks.?
In case you were wondering how you can find a genuinely certified face mask, the Centers for Disease Control has listed a guide to separate the fakes from the real deal.?
For starters, look at the markings on the respirator that claims to be N95. It should have the NIOSH logo printed on it in block letters (signifying its approval from the National Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health).?
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Make sure NIOSH is spelt correctly.Next, you need to look for the brand name printed clearly. Alternatively, you can check the brand¡¯s name and its certification with NIOSH here.?
Also, look out for testing and certification code ¡®TC¡¯ which is followed by a numerical code. The mask should also show the filter type (with alphabets N, P, R) and efficiency (95,99 100) like the N95.?
One big indicator that differentiates N95 masks from the rest are the two bands that attach on the back of the head and neck, as opposed to loops that attach to the ear. In case your mask has ear loops, it¡¯s not NIOSH compliant.?