- 23 reads
KN95 Masks – Available in US Inventory at Low Cost
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is more important now than ever to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, especially given that so many states are seeing increasing number of cases. Having US inventory at hand is key. PPE in US warehouses is a huge advantage for volume buyers.
The rise of COVID-19 in many states continues to plague America, and the social gatherings for the 4th of July on many different levels may further increase the spread of the virus. Having
PPE Source International has the experience and the focus to help end users, distributors, and resellers with Isolation Gown and Nitrile Glove inventory as well as IR forehead thermometers, KN95 Medical Masks, and other PPE, including, civilian KN95 masks, and gel hand sanitizer in a range of sizes.
Click here for more Personal Protection Equipment and also click here for ultraviolet disinfection technology that includes options for HVAC duct integration and in room devices.
To order contact: Sales@PPESourceInternational.com
If you would like GREENandSAVE to provide updates to our readers on how your company is assisting in the efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, please Contact Us.
COVID-19 NEWS is always helpful to stay up on the situation. Here is an example: https://www.wbez.org/stories/a-users-guide-to-masks-whats-best-at-protecting-others-and-yourself/e6c468b9-32ba-4918-b531-faac13037412
So you want to wear a face mask? Good call.
A growing body of evidence supports the idea that wearing face masks in public, even when you feel well, can help curb the spread of the coronavirus — since people can spread the virus even without showing symptoms. That’s the main reason to wear a mask: to protect other people from you.
Face masks can also offer the wearer some protection — though how much varies greatly, depending on the type of mask. No mask will offer full protection, and they should not be viewed as a replacement for physical distancing of at least 6 feet from others, frequent hand-washing and avoiding crowds. When you combine masks with those measures, they can make a big difference.
But what kind of mask is best?
When choosing a mask, experts say focus on the fabric, fit and breathability. How well a mask protects is a function of both what it’s made of and how well it seals to your face. But if you can’t breathe well through it, then you’re less likely to keep it on.
Here’s a look at different kinds of masks you might consider and how effective they are at protecting the people around you — and you as well.
Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people should wear cloth face coverings in public, we’ll talk about fabric masks first. But if you’ve purchased a medical mask or respirator, scroll down for some important notes — like how to spot if you’ve got a fake.
A neck gaiter and a cloth mask NPR
Fabric Masks
First, consider the fabric itself. “The tightness of the weave is really important. That’s the first thing I would ask people to look into,” says Supratik Guha, a professor of molecular engineering at the University of Chicago. To check your fabric, hold it up to a light: If you can easily see the outline of the individual fibers, it’s not going to make a great filter.
Researchers say a thick 100% cotton weave is a good bet. That’s because at the microscopic level, the natural fibers in cotton tend to have more three-dimensional structure than synthetic fibers, which are smoother, says Christopher Zangmeister, a researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. That 3D structure can create more roadblocks that can stop an incoming particle, he explains.
Zangmeister co-authored a new study in ACS Nano that tested how well dozens of different materials filtered. While two synthetics, including one that’s 100% polyester, did well, most synthetics ranked near the bottom, he says. But even a mask made out of synthetic fibers is better than no mask at all, he says.
Think multiple layers. Several studies have found that masks made of multiple layers are more effective at blocking small particles.
A good option: a mask made of two layers of a thick-weave fabric with a built-in pocket where you can place a filter, says May Chu, an epidemiologist at the Colorado School of Public Health who co-authored a paper published on June 2 in Nano Letters on the filtration efficiency of household mask materials.
The best bet for the material to slip in as a filter is polypropylene, which is derived from plastic, says Chu. “If you go to Walmart, you look for Oly-fun, which is the brand name of that fabric. It’s also called spunbond,” says Chu, who’s a scientific adviser to the World Health Organization and helped craft its recent detailed guidance on cloth masks.
Chu says polypropylene is great as a physical filter but has another benefit: It holds an electrostatic charge. In other words, it uses the power of static electricity. Think of the static cling that can happen when you rub two pieces of fabric together, says Chu. That’s basically what’s happening with this fabric: That “cling” effect traps incoming — and outgoing — droplets. “That’s what you want — the cling is what’s important,” Chu says.
And unlike other materials, polypropylene keeps its electrostatic charge in the humidity created when you breathe out, says Yi Cui, a professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford University who co-authored the Nano Letters study with Chu.
Cui and Chu note that polypropylene will lose its electrostatic charge when you wash it, but you can recharge it by ironing it or by rubbing it with a plastic glove for around 20 seconds. Once you’ve got static cling, ka-ching — you’re back in business. Cui says a two-layer thick-weave cotton mask alone can filter out about 35% of small particles. But adding a filter made out of two layers of charged polypropylene could boost that filtration efficiency by as much as another 35%, Cui says. You still want a cotton layer closest to your face, he says, because it’s a more comfortable material.
If you can’t get your hands on polypropylene fabric, reach for tissues: Take two sheets of facial tissue, fold them over and put them inside your mask’s pocket so that you end up with a four-layer filter that you can change out daily. “Surprisingly, the four layers of paper gives you adequate protection,” says Chu — though tissues don’t have the added power of electrostatic charge.
If neither of those are options, a mask made of three or more layers of tightly woven cotton will also do a decent job, Chu says.
Though some sites online have suggested that coffee filters might make good mask filters, Chu and Zangmeister both advise against this. Zangmeister notes that coffee filters are hard to breathe through, so you end up breathing around the filter rather than through it.
“Imagine if you have a hose. You put your thumb over part of it, and the water just goes around it. In this case, the [air] flow will go around that filter,” which defeats the purpose of using a filter, he explains.
Shape also matters: A mask’s ability to filter out particles depends on not just what it’s made out of but how well it seals to your face. When it comes to cloth masks, those that cup tightly to your face are best, Cui says. Masks with pleats or folds are also a good choice: The folds expand so that you have more air flowing through the fabric itself instead of leaking out through gaps at the sides of the mask. Masks with a flat front design are less effective, he says.
Another trick to improve the seal of your mask: Add a layer of pantyhose. Cut a length of hose about 8 to 10 inches long, from top to bottom, from one leg on a pair of hose, and pull it on top of your mask. This forces particles that might have otherwise gone around the loose edges of the mask and been inhaled to instead go through the mask, which can filter them out, says Loretta Fernandez, a researcher at Northeastern University.
What about neck-gaiter masks (also known as buffs)? Often made of synthetic fabric, they are designed to cover your face, nose and mouth and wrap around you. “There would theoretically be less chance for the air to escape laterally out of the sides like it would from a mask that’s open on the side,” says Dr. Abraar Karan, a physician at Harvard Medical School who’s working on Massachusetts’ COVID-19 response team.
Avoid masks with exhalation valves. Some cloth and disposable masks come with an exhalation valve at the front. The valve makes it easier to breathe out, but it also releases unfiltered air, so it doesn’t protect others if you’re contagious. And protecting others is the primary reason to wear a mask.
Keep it clean. Experts say cloth masks should be washed daily with soap or detergent and hot water. Make sure the mask is completely dry before you reuse it, as a wet mask can make it harder to breathe and can promote the growth of microorganisms.
