Tag: Mask

Where You Can Go in a Good Mask

With the pandemic causing so many deaths in countries around the world, face masks have become a symbol of this period of time. You can see many people wearing masks to protect them from the virus. From homemade masks, surgical masks to even rare masks such as those with N95 or P100 filters, you can see that wearing a mask is the new norm.

Thus, it is more crucial to understand that there are places where wearing a protective mask is an absolute must. Regular face masks won’t be enough in these areas. What you need are those masks with a high rating. Ratings like N95 are tested to remove more than 95% of PM2.5 particles whereas the N99 rating removes more than 99% of PM2.5 particles, which is very similar to the European Standard FFP2.

What are those masks with P100 filters?

As we all know, masks have filters that are rated based on how much particulate matter they can efficiently block. With a P100 rating, these masks would be able to block 99.9% of particles 0.3 microns or larger. For instance, there are gas masks with P100 ratings. According to the CDC, gas masks are known to be air-purifying respirators. They filter or clean chemical gases and any other particles out of the air you breathe. This respirator often has a facepiece or masks and a cartridge or filter. These are also often secured by straps on the top of the head.

Places You Can Use Gas Masks

  1. Areas Dealing with Hazardous Waste

There are people called hazardous material removal workers or hazmat workers who deal with dangerous waste. They use full protective suits and respiratory-type gas masks to remove, dispose, or transport nuclear waste, radioactive waste, and other types that could harm the environment or the public. The masks provide clean air when dealing with such toxic waste.

  1. Areas with Nuclear Radiation

There are factories and nuclear power plants that deal with nuclear radiation.

They can even be found near some places where people live. If you are an employee or someone who lives close to these factories or plants, you will need a gas mask to protect you from the harmful air. In cases of emergency, these masks will also come in handy because wearing one could be the difference in survival.

  1. Areas in Healthcare or Medical Facilities

Most doctors, nurses, and any other medical or healthcare professionals can be found wearing masks to protect themselves and ensure the safety of the patients and other people.

P100 masks are efficient when it comes to contagious diseases such as COVID-19, the swine flu and avian flu, as stated by Enviro Safety. These filters can help block most airborne hazards, which is why it is normal for people to wear these masks during a pandemic to prevent the spread of a virus.

  1. Areas with Poor Air Quality

Most people won’t be able to easily avoid areas with poor air quality because of the nature of their jobs, such as those who work in construction, food processing plants, agriculture, or even pharmaceutical manufacturing. These workers are usually exposed to dust, hazardous mist, and fumes. But, with P100 masks, they would be protected from 99.97% of particulate matter and gasses when properly worn.

As can be seen above, there are jobs that use face masks, so there is no reason for you not to get one. Keep your lungs safe with masks and avoid causing any harm to them!

3 REASONS WHY it would have paid for you to get a mask a 6 months ago

Wearing masks might be the new normal today, but did you know that you should have had one months ago? Believe it or not, masks are a must-have for most people, especially since we deal with pollution and other harmful substances that can affect our lungs every day. It might not seem like it, but prolonged exposure to these things and unhealthy habits can have severe effects later on in our lives.

For you to understand the importance of masks, here are three reasons why you need one:

  1. Cleaner Lungs

The common answer for using masks is so that you can protect your lungs and breathe in clean and filtered air. You can avoid a stuffy nose caused by allergens such as pollen or dust. You can also prevent dry coughs by minimizing the risks of getting a cold during the changing of seasons. Another important factor is that filtered air can also shield you from various substances and conditions that will cause lung damage. These can include the following:

  • Smoking – Cigarette smoke produces toxic substances that can cause lung damage because it triggers inflammation and destroys air passages and air sacs, as stated by the Lung Health Institute.
  • Household Substances – From VOCs, radon to asbestos and mold, there are several materials that can be found in homes that can lead to lung damage.
  • Pollution – It can be indoor or outdoor pollution and consistently breathing in these air pollutants can cause lung inflammation, and in worst cases, lung damage.

  1. Comfortability

Who doesn’t want to be comfortable anywhere and at any place? By wearing masks with a high quality filter, you’ll have safety assurance since you would be able to protect your lungs from any toxic and harmful substances or viruses. These days, various masks are used to safeguard people from the spread of the coronavirus and other airborne diseases. Not to mention also that during traffic pollution, you can minimize the risks by wearing masks. For those who drive motorbikes, you are more prone to air pollutants caused by traffic congestion. Thus, it is always better to regularly wear your mask as you travel.

  1. Long-Term Illness Prevention

Air pollution is something that can be hard to escape. Regardless of where you live, it is all around us. According to WHO , “microscopic pollutants in the air can slip past our body’s defenses, penetrating deep into our respiratory and circulatory system, damaging our lungs, heart and brain.” This is why at least 2.5 million people worldwide die each year from the long-term health effects caused by exposure to air pollution, as stated by National Geographic. Because of deadly lung diseases, heart disease, cancer, and other respiratory diseases, air pollution shouldn’t be taken lightly. For these reasons, you can see how crucial it is to wear a mask. This will help reduce exposure to all these pollutants and prevent any prolonged effects.

If you consider all these three reasons, masks are definitely something you need for a lifetime. As much as possible, avoid inhaling substances that can cause damage to your health. As they say, it is better to be safe than sorry. 

Where Your Disposable Pollution Mask Ends Up

Because of the pandemic, there has been an excessive increase in demand for disposable masks. Many countries have needed them to help lessen the risk of exposure to the virus. Although they have been a requirement for some, disposable masks for that matter are not the best solution for many people. The increased plastic waste that they entail have not been good for the environment.

Doctors and other healthcare professionals are actually the ones that should use disposable masks. They are often exposed to germs, bacteria, and other viruses because of the nature of their jobs. What other people should use are reusable masks.

The Negative Effects on the Environment

Disposable masks like surgical masks are often made mostly of polypropylene. They can either be 20 or 25 grams per square meter in density per mask.

Polypropylene is a thermoplastic polymer usually used in a wide variety of products. This composition of disposable masks makes it a plastic waste that it is hard to dispose of. Not only will they overflow in trash dumps, but some people are not properly disposing of them in the right place. In a recent survey conducted by Environmental group OceansAsia, they have found masses of surgical masks washing up on the shoreline of the Soko Islands in Hong Kong.

According to Teale Phelps Bondaroff, Director of Research at OceansAsia, “Most of these masks contain or are made of polypropylene, which does not break down quickly.

Marine plastic pollution is a serious problem. It is estimated that every year, over eight million tons of plastic enters our oceans. This plastic does not disappear but rather slowly breaks down into micro-plastic, which enters food chains, with a devastating effect.”

This just shows how much of an impact disposable masks are to

the environment. The better solution that most people should turn to is reusable masks.

3 Reasons to Use Reusable Masks

 

  • They last longer than disposable masks. With reusable masks, you can use them for as long as they las, but you must also be vigilant when it comes to cleaning and maintaining them. Reusable masks do have plastic valves, but those plastic valves can be used for eternity. If the silicone stopper in the valves doesn’t work anymore, it can be replaced.
  • They can help you save money. You won’t have to buy a lot of masks. You can just have one or two reusable masks, and purchase the replaceable filters which do have to be discarded but do not have any plastic in them. They are better for your wallet and for comfortability.
  • They can save the environment. This might be the most important reason. We want to do our best to save Mother Nature. We can do things like recycling or utilizing reusable masks and other reusable objects. We need to stop producing so much plastic waste because the earth and the environment are suffering now more than ever.

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How often do you hear yourself saying: “I can’t stand pollution in traffic!”

All of us have been there. We have hated and been irritated by the smell of polluted air during traffic. I mean, who can blame us when it can have adverse effects not only on the environment but also on our health. It is stated that road transport is responsible for a significant amount of air pollution in cities and towns. Many industrialized countries have seen the harmful consequences of traffic fumes that pollute the atmosphere. That is why they are looking for various measures to minimize and reduce their risks.

The Risk of Diesel

One of the many examples of air pollutants is diesel exhaust or fumes. Although nowadays, the composition of diesel fuel has become less toxic, studies have shown that inhaling it for long periods can have acute or short term health effects such as: causing stress to the brain.

According to the Director of UCLA’s Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, John Froines, “Diesel has very powerful effects on the lungs.” This statement is also backed by an EPA risk assessment expert, Charlie Ris, who stated that regularly inhaling a concentration of diesel particles, over five micrograms per cubic meter of air, can lead to a “spectrum of respiratory problems.” 

Thus, it can be said that long-term exposure to such kind of air pollution during traffic might lead to awful repercussions that we don’t want to experience.

What Happens?

That putrid smell of gasses surrounding us can quickly remind us how uncomfortable it is to commute around a city. When we get home our noses and throats a

re congested and filled with mucous.

We get a cough and it takes forever for it to go away. On a road trip the dust filled air gets into our cars or around our visors and enters deep into our lungs.

The smell of clean air or freshly cut grass reminds us that there are far better areas to be in than traffic. That’s why we hate being stuck in a traffic jam. The unregulated vehicles spewing out gasses and particles are often the main cause for the pollution in the air and we have to be there. We often don’t have a choice. Rush hour is there because we all want to get to a certain place at a certain time. Sometimes however, we can choose to travel while there is no traffic.

What Can We Do?

One of the best ways to avoid or reduce exposure to traffic air pollutants is to wear a mask.

Most motorbike riders know already of this fact. But a constant reminder is needed because they are the ones who will be most exposed to the pollutants. As also stated in the article, “THOUSANDS NOW WEAR pollution masks who thought they never would,” one should wear masks, especially in traffic-congested cities.

Pollution masks will serve as protection from many pollutants and not just diesel fumes. They can also be a barrier against viruses and bacteria that you might be inadvertently exposed to. They can also serve as a preventive measure since the wearer can use it to avoid spreading illnesses.

Congestion and traffic-related pollution can be really frustrating since they are the biggest contributors to air pollution. Rapid industrialization doesn’t only make it easier for us. However, we should keep in mind that there are simple solutions and ways that we can counteract the negative effects from happening to us.

Pollution masks are prime examples that every little thing will count when it comes to protection from harmful or toxic air quality.

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THOUSANDS NOW WEAR pollution masks who thought they never would

Why people are used to wearing pollution masks in Asia or in big cities

Asian residents are very used to the habit of putting on their pollution masks as they leave the door. For many European, African, South American and American residents it’s definitely not. People see masks as an extra unnecessary accessory that they don’t need. They only recently have started to realize the benefits of masks. A virus spreading at impossible rates is the reason that people now try to protect themselves.

Why though, do so many people in Asia naturally wear masks? Well it could be because they don’t want to get other people sick when they are sick. It could also be because they want their physical traits to be private. It is definitely also because pollution is rife and people want to protect their lungs. In todays day and age, using a mask as a physical barrier that prevents other people from catching your cold or infection shows us who is empathetic. Taoism is a belief across many parts of Asia which has cultural influence on people’s decisions. The beliefs of Traditional Chinese Medicine like in the use of herbs also has the concept of making sure that our lungs are healthy. Exposing oneself to bad air can be detrimental, relating to a concept called qi, which in Chinese means atmosphere. People who are Taoist strongly believe that if the qi within our bodies is not clean, pain and disease are more likely to hit them. One way to ensure a healthy qi is through clean breathing and covering the face to protect the lungs

Industrialization causes high air pollution levels, and natural disasters have made the production and purchase of facemasks very common. Because people are so interested in protecting their health, many fashionable designs, comfortable, cheap and expensive masks have become available to the people of Asia. Sometimes people go as far as to wear masks so that they don’t have to be social. Not having to show anger or smile can make people more comfortable when they are surrounded by people.

Why many countries haven’t adopted pollution masks

There are many why people may not buy a mask of any type. Some people smoke, others don’t think they commute in a polluted place, some drive cars, and others simply find masks uncomfortable. It makes a lot of sense to be against masks, until you experience the benefits for yourself. It has now even become mandatory in many places to wear a mask, enforced with fines.

Now the debate lies in this: If everybody buys a pollution mask, there won’t be enough supply for hard working healthcare professionals to be able to use a mask where they’re most needed. If at first there is enough stock of masks for all the healthcare professionals working where there has been a case of a virus, then the excess should definitely be made available to the general public. The question is if people actually want to buy them or use them. This comes down to how fashionable, required, or comfortable masks are.

In a place where masks were generally unheard of, seeing a person wearing a mask might make others scared. They are simply not used to it and want to stay away from those with masks thinking that there’s a reason why they have a mask on. The reasoning though is very clear. Protect others from your exhausted breath, droplets, a virus or a cold. Protect yourself against small particles, pollution, and other peoples’ illnesses.

In many western nations, we understand the use of a HEPA filtered vacuum machine, wearing cup masks while doing construction or being in any type of industrial job. This has not yet crossed over to people welcoming daily use of masks in any situation, but with a virus being out of control, it is only obvious that the best way to prevent sickness is social distancing and respiratory protection.

Why masks can be useful (viruses, flu, sickness, etc.)

People might feel ashamed to wear a mask, but now that’s not necessary anymore. We can start to accept the nature of wanting to protect our respiratory tracts. Whether it’s while mowing the lawn, or being in a busy airplane, why not protect yourself? Especially knowing that people around you might be sick, or that you might get others sick. From the view of a doctor, masks are a secure barrier that will help flatten the quickly rising curve of a virus. Everyone should have access to some sort of respiratory protection if they are in a public place where they have to be near other people.

Even though the WHO still recommends that masks should be reserved for healthcare, or for those people who are actually sick, coughing, sneezing, or caring for those with a virus, those who wear them for protection should also use masks correctly. First, of course, it is important to wash our hands as frequently as possible. Disposable masks used in high risk areas should be disposed of properly. The outside of a mask could be contaminated, so not touching the outside of a mask, or taking it off from the back straps and then washing hands immediately after removing is the best way forward.

Facemasks can and will save lives. We now need them in our lives more than ever. The ratings though are extremely important. If multiple layers of fabric have a 100% seal around the nose and mouth, they should block a high percentage of viruses and bacteria. Tested masks that are proven to block higher than 99% of particles are best to use. Masks that block as much as possible are FFP2, N99 or better. These masks are tested and certified to remove smaller than PM2.5 particles which includes most viruses and bacteria.

Pollution

People are learning how many deaths pollution causes each year. Damage to the lungs at early ages or in later stages of life has been proven to be detrimental to our health. Many people are now starting to see the benefits of masks. They are understanding that the PM2.5 particles they breathe in from traffic, construction or even fine floating dust can make it difficult to breathe. Congested lungs and catching a cold or virus are now easier to prevent than ever. It is not only the exhaust fumes coming from vehicles you’re commuting around that are bad for you, but also the trash fires burning, the dust from construction, and nearby factory emissions. Small particles are often linked to diseases like cancer, as the ultrafine emissions get deep into our lungs. Pollution takes the life out of our lungs and hearts, which can be harmful for us in the long term.

How to Make Sure You Get a Comfortable Mask!

A key factor to actually wearing a mask is comfortability. If a mask isn’t easy to put on, annoys you, or doesn’t look good, you probably aren’t going to put it on. Even for those on a bicycle or motorcycle commuting through heavy traffic twice a day and often getting caught in rush hour, a habit to grab that mask and throw it on takes about a week to catch on. A lot of people may not know how comfortable a mask can be because they’ve only ever tried the surgical or industrial masks. There are other masks out there used while exercising and our main reason to start AryMask was that there were no comfortable masks. Especially for those of us using masks in hot and humid climates or during exercise. That is why we suggest our Air Mesh model in the single strap style or the dual strap style if you want a more adjustable and upward pulling fit.