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.
People want to look good while staying safe and removing the stigma that respirators are only for sick people. That’s inspired some artistic people to start selling mask chains online. They look like jewelry, making your respirator stylish. But some people online say that wearing a chain could ruin your …
We know air pollution is linked to heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and early death. But scientists have long wondered how tiny pollution particles travel from the lungs to the rest of the body. A new study offers an interesting clue. Researchers found evidence that traffic-related pollution particles can enter …
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 …
When a billion people in China (and quite a few expats) woke up to the severe air pollution in almost every city in China, it forced a billion people to become experts in a complicated scientific question: Do masks work? Since then, I’ve given talks with hundreds of people all around …
COVID-19 has caused a surge in interest for all types of masks, including Japanese Pitta masks. Smart Air has received a flood of questions about how well they filter COVID-19 and other viruses. The Japanese Pitta masks are sleek and incredibly popular, but there’s little information available on how well …
Scientists have actually randomized people to wear N95 or regular surgical masks, then tracked how many people got infected with viruses similar to COVID-19 such as the flu. This data can tell us whether N95 or surgical masks are more effective at preventing infection of respiratory viruses including COVID-19. The …
In a recent study, researchers tested household materials that could be used to make DIY masks, but they left out one common material—paper towel masks (also called “kitchen paper”). Could paper towel be an effective material for making homemade masks in times of crisis and shortages? Smart Air Engineer Paddy …
With masks in short supply, many people are being forced to re-use masks. That means the idea of microwaving masks has gone from a crazy-sounding idea to a critically practical question. Does Microwaving Masks Deactivate The Coronavirus? Another reason this question is critical: Smart Air tests found that washing N95 …
One month ago, we published one of the first rundowns of data on the best materials for making homemade masks. Fast forward and the CDC is now recommending face masks for everybody, spurring a worldwide movement to make homemade masks. The first summary (viewed over 4 million times!) was a …
DIY cloth masks to protect against viruses sounds like a crazy idea. Data shows masks work incredibly well, and they’re also really cheap. Surgical masks cost a few pennies, and they’re capable of filtering out 80% of particles down to 0.007 microns (14 times smaller than COVID-19). However, the COVID-19 …
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