Overview :
N95 is well known as a pollution mask. It is considered the best way to protect from pollution and airborne particles. Medical research stated that even small amounts of air pollution could cause bad impacts on the heart, lungs, and brain too. Many people choose to wear pollution masks that appear to minimize the harmful effects or severity of air pollution. There are many types of pollution masks from simpler to higher levels. Simpler masks are paper dust masks. The higher level contains purification of air and prevents minute particles from the environment.
For this purpose, N95 mask is mostly preferred because of its affordable price and quality.
It also prevents tiny microbes that are not visible from naked eyes like bacteria and viruses. It protects from all types of contamination. And it is approved by NIOSH.
Facts and Figure:
All the respirators we are using are approved by NIOSH ( The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). Users feel confident that the device provides the protection, is well fitted, and has no harmful effects. But when the pandemic situation comes at its peak, it causes a shortage of NIOSH- approved face masks and other suitable options for people's safety.
The use of reusable polymeric respirators and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) as alternatives to FFRs is suggested by NIOSH where appropriate. However, suppose. In that case, a healthcare facility still needs additional FFRs employers should recognize the additional options that the CDC and FDA have decided are necessary to protect healthcare employees during the pandemic when respirator shortages are identified nationwide.
Purpose of N95 Mask:
Gases from automobiles and industries and toxic pollutants together pollute the air, and the environment gets contaminated. Air pollution is caused by many gases like carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and many organic compounds. and the most important thing is these gases are toxic to us. These particles are of minute dimensions.
The N95 mask is to reduce the effects of contamination from the air. It is also an important factor in what kind of toxins are present and what kind of mask you are wearing, the user's safety depends on both factors. Every pollution mask contains their protection factor which tells the percentage of toxins are filtered by the mask.
N95 masks have 5 protection factors, which indicates that it can filter the 5% of pollutants from the environment or contaminated air. It affects less for the particles which are smaller than 0.3 microns. It is not effective against gases present in the air.
Conclusion :
Concise research is still needed about the efficacy of pollution masks. We are doing now because wearing face masks is an important preventive measure to prevent air pollution from causing adverse effects. It has to be stated that it may not be as easy for all to wear these pollution masks. It takes a lot of effort to breathe or claustrophobic people may face difficulty in wearing. The pollution mask is effective when it is sealed properly and worn carefully. The loose unfit mask can not prevent you from air pollution.
If you are in an environment with low levels of air quality, the safest way to protect your lungs and general health is to wear an N95 face mask. The N95 is a safer way to breathe clean air and remain safe and is designed to filter out harmful particles.
