Do N95 Masks Really Expire?
Can you wear expired face masks? How effective are expired face masks? A study tested 10 year-old 3M N95 masks compared to new masks and this is what they found.
Masks
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.
Does a Wet Mask Decrease Its Effectiveness?
Does a wet mask still work? If your mask is slightly wet, how does this wetness and humidity affect it’s performance? Fortunately, we have data on the effectiveness of wet masks! Researchers tested the performance of new and “wet” masks. They asked 22 people to wear either a DIY cloth … Read more
Does Doubling Mask Layers Increase Effectiveness?
I often get asked questions about double masks: “Is wearing two masks better than one?” and “Does doubling mask layers increase effectiveness?” It would make sense that the more layers you wear, the safer you are, right? Even director of the NIH Dr. Anthony Fauci has said it seems like … Read more
Surgical Masks Surprisingly Effective Against PM2.5
Surgical masks have a lot of bad rep for filtering PM2.5. There’s a fantastic educational poster from Greenpeace that I’ve seen in several places. Here it is: It offers great advice on masks that protect us from PM2.5, soot or wildfire smoke. But then it says this this about surgical … Read more
Masks for Coronavirus May Be Lowering Blood Pressure for Millions
The coronavirus has made millions around the world regularly wear masks to reduce the spread of the virus. It is clear, masks help mitigate virus spread. But widespread mask wearing may be having another unintended benefit: lowering blood pressure for millions. With mask wearing to prevent coronavirus spread, people are … Read more
Here’s Why Winter Air Quality in India Is so Bad
Winter air quality in India is hazardous, with PM2.5 pollution levels reach more than 10 times the World Health Organization’s annual limit. Hazy skies and pollution alerts have become the norm during India’s winters. But just why is this? Analyzing India’s Summer & Winter Pollution Levels Data analyzed by Smart … Read more
Do N95 Masks Deprive Us of Oxygen?
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 … Read more
The Three Coolest, Most Breathable Surgical Masks for the Summer
Recently, the Coronavirus has begun to sweep Beijing again. Among so many surgical masks, how should we choose which brand surgical mask to wear, not only against with virus but also away from sweating. Our Smart Air tested 10 surgical masks that were purchased from different pharmacies and come up … Read more
Are Reusable Polypropylene Bags Effective as DIY Face Masks for COVID-19?
In the rush to make homemade masks, many people are wondering whether reusable bags such as non-woven polypropylene plastic bags are effective at filtering viruses. These reusable bags are incredibly popular in places like Asia and Africa, where they are a common alternative to flimsy plastic shopping bags. Why … Read more
Half of Chinese N95 Masks Fail Quality Checks
Tests of masks marketed as N95 from 21 manufacturers show that half of Chinese N95 masks fail quality tests–with some masks filtering no better than a cotton cloth. These tests come at a time that many countries around the world are scrambling for masks and other PPE. Factories Spring … Read more
