Masks are effective protection from airborne pollutants such as PM2.5, viruses, bacteria and allergens. In general, there are 2 common types of masks: surgical masks and respirators like N95 and N99 masks. DIY face masks can be used when surgical masks and respirators are not available. Read more to learn if masks actually work, how long masks can be used and how to wash them.
Wildfires create a serious amount of smoke and air pollution. Wildfire smoke can cause short and long-term health impacts. That’s why it’s important to know how to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. Wildfire smoke is a form of air pollution. It contains dangerous VOC gases and small particles (PM2.5) that …
How long can you wear face masks? How often you should replace your surgical or N95 mask depends on who you ask. The WHO recommends changing surgical masks every 4 hours. If that’s true, that means a lot of masks and a lot of waste. To find out how long …
KN95 masks are one of the most popular respiratory masks on the market for COVID-19 protection. The CDC states that authentic KN95 masks provide the highest protection against COVID-19. The issue is the CDC stated that 60% of KN95 masks on the market do not actually pass KN95 standards. So …
Every year, as winter blankets India, over a billion people find themselves navigating through streets filled with toxic, polluted air. Whether in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, or Hyderabad, the question on everyone’s mind becomes: Do face masks and air pollution masks truly offer protection? Throughout India, I’ve encountered intelligent, skeptical individuals …
Since mask fit-test machines cost $10,000, many people need a simpler, practical way to check that their mask is sealing properly on their face. This simple four-step “poor man’s fit test” will help people check the fit of their mask and find leaks. I was fortunate enough to visit 3M’s …
Wearing masks for hours on end has led some people to worry about whether N95 masks deprive us of oxygen. Scientists have actually made people wear N95 masks and measured their blood oxygen. So we have a solid answer to this question, and it’s not what this question assumes. This …
If you can smell an odor while you’re wearing an N95 mask, does that mean the mask isn’t fitting well? Many people experience this when they notice they can still smell cigarette smoke, even though they’re wearing a mask. Thus, can we use smells as an indicator of getting a …
Is KN95 the same as N95? With such similar-sounding names, it can be confusing to understand the difference between N95 and KN95 masks. This handy chart explains the similarities and differences between N95 and KN95 masks. N95 vs. KN95 Comparison Chart Source: 3M – Comparison of FFP2, KN95, and N95 …
Surgical masks are designed to be worn in one direction only. However, it can be difficult to know which way a medical face mask should go. Should the blue side be outward or inward? And what about those all-white surgical masks? In this article, we’ll cover how to wear a …
With Covid-19, many of us are wondering how to properly clean our masks. Google searches for “wash N95 mask” and “wash KN95 mask” have sky-rocketed. Yet data-backed answers seem to be in short supply. The usual advice is to toss and replace masks instead of washing them. Let’s dive into …
