Assessment of best-selling respirators and masks: Do we have acceptable respiratory protection for the next pandemic?
Breathing resistance
COVID-19
N95 respirator
Particle efficiency
Respirator efficiency
SARS-CoV-2
Journal
American journal of infection control
ISSN: 1527-3296
Titre abrégé: Am J Infect Control
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 8004854
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
04 2023
04 2023
Historique:
received:
20
05
2022
revised:
22
06
2022
accepted:
25
06
2022
medline:
4
4
2023
pubmed:
29
7
2022
entrez:
28
7
2022
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
COVID-19 pandemic caused a high demand for respiratory protection, caused a scarcity of approved respirators and the production of alternative respiratory protection. To raise public awareness through the scientific community, bestselling respirators and masks in the United States' leading online retailer, Amazon.com, were evaluated. Ten respirators and masks, 5 Face Protective Equipment (FPE) and 5 Cloth Face Masks (CFMs), were evaluated compared to the N95 standard. Two groups were established with the intention of comparing all masks together. The fractional efficiency and pressure drop were measured and compared to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) standards. In addition, grading factors for protection, comfort, and affordability were developed that can be used by the scientific community to readily disseminate to consumers for the selection of the appropriate respiratory protection. Two FPE provided acceptable efficiency (>95%) similar to the N95, while the remaining products were below or extremely below NIOSH standards. All products provided pressure drops within NIOSH standards (≤35 mmH The N95 remains the best respiratory protection, and in the event of the next airborne pandemic, FPEs could serve as adequate alternative protection against the viral spread.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
COVID-19 pandemic caused a high demand for respiratory protection, caused a scarcity of approved respirators and the production of alternative respiratory protection. To raise public awareness through the scientific community, bestselling respirators and masks in the United States' leading online retailer, Amazon.com, were evaluated.
METHODS
Ten respirators and masks, 5 Face Protective Equipment (FPE) and 5 Cloth Face Masks (CFMs), were evaluated compared to the N95 standard. Two groups were established with the intention of comparing all masks together. The fractional efficiency and pressure drop were measured and compared to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) standards. In addition, grading factors for protection, comfort, and affordability were developed that can be used by the scientific community to readily disseminate to consumers for the selection of the appropriate respiratory protection.
RESULTS
Two FPE provided acceptable efficiency (>95%) similar to the N95, while the remaining products were below or extremely below NIOSH standards. All products provided pressure drops within NIOSH standards (≤35 mmH
CONCLUSION
The N95 remains the best respiratory protection, and in the event of the next airborne pandemic, FPEs could serve as adequate alternative protection against the viral spread.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35901992
pii: S0196-6553(22)00536-3
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2022.06.024
pmc: PMC9313532
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
388-395Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2022 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.