As a mechanical engineer with a background in aerosol science, I wondered why cloth masks were still being used. People wore similar coverings during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1919. I knew people needed to know about the better mask technology.
I embarked on a year-long mission to find the best masks I could find. The mini aerosol laboratory in my bathroom was built with scientific instruments that could measure particles 1/50,000th the width of a human hair. I have a public database. A channel on the internet. I became known as the mask nerd.
One of the videos on the internet.
With the Omicron variant spreading around the world, the most basic question I get is still: what kind of mask should I be wearing?
If possible, not a cloth. The masks are moderately effective at controlling particles that come out of your mouth. They don't offer much protection against incoming particles. The mask protects the wearer's respiratory protection.
A cloth mask is better than nothing, but it only protects the wearer around 60 percent. The lack of a tight fit to the face results in large amounts of leaking around the mask.
Better masks exist. These are called high-filtration masks, or by the technical name of a filtering facepiece respirator. It is possible to get a high- performance mask that provides significant protection to the wearer at levels that are between five and 10 times that of a cloth mask.
If exposed to infectious individuals, wearing a high-filtration mask can buy you time. Studies show that the risk of infections increases with cloth or surgical masks, and with no mask or low-performing masks. The same level of exposure would take hours to become dangerous with the use of high-filtration masks. Being around a contagious person always carries some risk, but the increased protection from potential exposure provided by these masks provides a psychological improvement in day-to-day life, as you no longer need to worry about the fact that those around you may prefer to wear masks.
One might think that these would be a Darth Vader-style headpiece, which would be difficult to breathe in. It is quite the opposite. These masks are made of a high tech material called meltblown polypropylene. It features tightly-spaced micron-sized fibres that have an electrostatic charge applied to them to catch even smaller particles. This material can be used to remove particles that are a few metres in size.
The most amazing thing, though, is that these materials provide more protection from respiratory aerosols than a typical three-layer cloth mask.
You want to look at three criteria when choosing a mask. A tight seal to the face is provided by the design of the mask, as well as the comfort from highly breathable materials.
You don't need to worry about finding a respirator that fits your face, it's an easy option. The air flows through the mask, not around it.
The FFP2 standard is recommended for the general public in the EU and UK. It comes in a variety of colors and costs less than a pound. Ensuring a quality product is helped by the oversight of various EU and UK government bodies.
A mask. The Canadian Press/REX/Shutterstock
The NIOSH N95 is a great option in the US, but only in headbands. Ear-loop masks are available via other international standards. The KN95 is a self-reported test standard, and lacks strict government regulation in China, which results in many flat-out fake masks. The KF94 is regulated by the Korean equivalent of the FDA.
In my year of testing nearly 100 different masks, I have found that there are high-performing masks that are better than cloth masks, and that many people like their cloth masks.
Highly decorative masks have been created by mask makers. The built-in ear-loop adjusters make for a tight fit in many KF94 masks. 3M's 9152 (9105 in the US) is a mask that helps the wearer breathe as if there were no face, while also providing a full range of motion for the jaw, is a great option for singers and choruses.
There is no better time to increase your mask game than now, with plentiful supplies and a more transmissible variant on our doorstep. I encourage people to try a few different varieties and find out what they like.
I would encourage governments to increase the domestic production of masks, which would not only create jobs, but also allow regulatory oversight and a supply of effective, safe masks for their citizens, as well as helping individuals choose the best mask for themselves. Good masks should be free of charge to those who can't afford them.
It is time to make sure everyone knows about high-filtration masks, because not all masks are created equal. The masks can make a difference in the fight against Covid. If you wear a mask, you should wear the best.
A mechanical engineer with a background in aerosol science is testing and reviewing masks.
