Every winter, India’s PM2.5 pollution levels reach more than 10 times the World Health Organization’s annual limit. Hazy skies and high 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 Air showed that India’s winter PM2.5 air pollution levels […]
Category: Masks
Masks are an effective way to protect yourself 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 masks are also a popular option for when surgical masks and respirators are not available. Read more to learn if masks actually work, how long masks can be used, how to wash them, and how to DIY your own mask.
Recent Masks Articles:
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 question itself doesn’t ask IF […]
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 a summary with analysis. I […]
Are Polypropylene Bags Effective as DIY Face Masks for COVID-19?
In the rush to make homemade masks, many people are wondering whether non-woven polypropylene bags are effective at filtering viruses. These bags are incredibly popular in places like Asia and Africa, where they are a common alternative to flimsy plastic shopping bags. Why Non-Woven Polypropylene Bags Make Great Homemade Masks These shopping bags […]
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 Up to Meet Mask Demand […]
How to Find Reliable N95 Mask Suppliers
After testing 31 masks from 19 suppliers in China, we discovered that almost half of the masks were not meeting the N95 standards for filtering particles. What’s more, out of the 17 masks that did meet the N95 standard, most of these broke when we tried some simple structural tests. Many people are currently looking […]
Does Wearing Surgical Masks With the Wrong Side Out Affect Their Ability to Capture Viruses?
Amid the rush for masks with the coronavirus, we’ve found that some people are wearing masks the wrong way round! But does wearing surgical masks the wrong way round affect their ability to capture viruses? Some online sources claim it doesn’t matter, like this one. Surgical masks are made up of 3 layers, and […]
Which Way Round Should a Surgical Face Mask Go?
Surgical masks are designed to be worn in one direction only. However, it can be difficult to know which way round the face mask should go. Should the blue side face out, or in? Some face masks are white all over, which way round should these white face masks go? In this post, we’ll cover […]
Can HEPA Filters Be Used to Make DIY Face Masks?
News media like The New York Times and Today have been talking about using HEPA filters as a material to make DIY face masks. There are even YouTube videos showing how to DIY a mask out of a HEPA filter. But just how well can HEPA filters capture virus-sized particles, and can HEPA […]
Can Masks Filter Pollen and Prevent Hay Fever?
Every year, spring’s blossoms bring with them wave of pollen. For places like Beijing, it’s also the start of the ‘snowy season’, with the hundreds of willow trees producing their fluffy catkin friends and the sniffles that follow. But how can we avoid the uncomfortable coughing and sneezing? Which masks work best for protecting us […]
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