The Son Of The Mask Full Movie
Charise Farag
You can be exposed to hazards (like germs, mold, nuisance dust, wildfire smoke, and air pollution) in the air in various situations. This page will help you understand the differences between various kinds of respirators and masks so that you can identify the type that will meet your needs best.
You can protect yourself by taking steps to reduce exposures. To decrease exposure to infectious respiratory diseases, increase physical distancing, add fresh outdoor air, and use air filters. During wildfires or poor air quality, you can close windows, use air filters, and limit time outdoors.
Wearing a respirator or mask is another way to reduce exposures to respiratory hazards. Respirators fit closely to your face and protect you by filtering particles out of the air you breathe. They also filter out droplets and particles that you exhale when breathing, coughing, or sneezing to prevent the spread of germs to others. Masks also filter out your exhaled breath to protect others. If a mask fits closely to your face, it also provides some protection from germs spread by others.
Exposure to germs in the air can cause respiratory infectious diseases, like influenza and COVID-19. Respiratory secretions can form small particles and droplets that can be spread from person to person. If the particles and droplets carry germs that stay infectious in the air, they can lead to infection. During periods of increased infections or when you are sick, it is not always possible to stay home or stay away from others to keep you from becoming sick. You can wear a respirator or mask to reduce your exposure to germs as well as prevent you from spreading your germs to others.
Mold grows in places with a lot of moisture. People are commonly exposed to mold when cleaning water-damaged buildings after weather events like floods and hurricanes. They are exposed to particles from the mold as well as vapors and gases from cleaning products when remediating flood damage in their house. Refer to the CDC guidance on Respiratory Protection for Residents and/or Cleaning Homes that Were Flooded.
Nuisance dust consists of any solid particle in the air. Cleaning, grinding, sanding, smoking, or polishing can create nuisance dust. Nuisance dust also includes pollen. You can wear a respirator or mask to reduce your exposure to nuisance dust.
When employers require respirators in a workplace, they should be used as part of a respiratory protection program. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires many workplaces to follow their Respiratory Protection Standard. There are multiple types of NIOSH Approved atmosphere-supplying respirators and air purifying respirators available for workplace settings. Information about NIOSH Approved respirators for use in workplace settings is available through various NIOSH infographics.
Air purifying particulate respirators and masks work by removing particles and blocking droplets. This reduces your exposure to harmful respiratory hazards. Correctly wearing a respirator or mask can protect you from some respiratory hazards.
Respirators are more protective than masks. You can use respirators such as filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) and elastomeric respirators (quarter-mask and half-mask types) at home and out in the community. Wearing a NIOSH Approved respirator reduces your exposure to hazards in the air. Masks are a less protective option. Examples include barrier face coverings (BFCs), disposable face masks, and cloth masks. Disposable face masks and cloth masks are the least effective at reducing exposures.
There is no standard test to measure the level of protection a respirator or mask provides to others around you. The more closely a respirator or mask fits to your face including fulling covering your nose and mouth, the more likely the filter is to capture your exhaled particles or droplets. A respirator or mask with a loose fit will allow more particles and droplets to exit through the gaps around your face. Additionally, the better the filtration of the respirator or mask, the better the expected level of protection. If you are sick, isolating yourself away from others is a more effective way to protect others than wearing a respirator or mask.
Respirators and masks intended for particles reduce your exposure by filtering some particles out and blocking droplets when you inhale. They can help protect you from particles like smoke, air pollution, mold, and germs in the air you inhale. They do not filter out harmful gases and vapors such as carbon monoxide or gasoline. It is important to consider the level of filtration and fit when selecting a respirator or mask.
Respirators and some masks, like BFCs, are manufactured to standards developed in collaboration with government and industry partners. These standards specify requirements like the level of filtration, fit, and quality controls the respirator or mask must meet. Standards give you confidence that a respirator or mask will protect you as intended if worn appropriately. Some masks, like many disposable face masks and cloth masks, are not made to a standard. They provide unknown levels of protection.
To help you know how well your respirator or mask filters out particles, you can look to see if the manufacturer claims a percentage filtration based on standards. NIOSH Approved respirators, like N95 filtering facepiece respirators, meet the most rigorous standards. Respirators conforming to international standards, like the KN95, are also tested to a standard. NIOSH Approved and international respirators will report the level of filtration they provide, such as a minimum of 95% or a minimum of 80%. However, those conforming to international standards may not have the rigorous quality assurance requirements meeting those that are NIOSH Approved. Depending on the intended use, manufacturers may test their respirators and masks to numerous different standards. Masks that claim to meet the ASTM BFC Standard will report the level of filtration they provide, such as a minimum of 20%.
The respirator and mask can only filter particles that try to pass through the filter material. Filtering facepiece respirators and elastomeric respirators cover the nose and mouth and fit tightly against the face creating a seal (tight-fitting) that forces the particles to pass through the filter material. Masks are designed to cover your nose and mouth but not form a tight seal to your face (loose-fitting). Using masks that are tighter to your face forces particle through the filter material. If gaps exist between your face and the respirator or mask, some small particles that you cannot see can enter your nose or mouth through those gaps. Minimizing these gaps is important. The bridge of the nose and the sides of the respirator or mask are common locations for leaks. Facial hair is also a common cause for gaps. Because the size and shape of your face is unique, you might need to try a few different respirators or masks to find one that forms a good seal to your face.
High manufacturing quality gives you confidence that a respirator or mask will protect you as intended. Manufacturing quality demonstrates that the manufacturer is able to consistently manufacture a product to the specifications of the original design. Some standards require the manufacturer to have a written quality plan. Others, like the NIOSH approval process for respirators, require the manufacturer to show the quality of their respirator or mask. NIOSH also conducts factory and product audits for NIOSH Approved respirators to ensure manufacturers maintain quality.
How Well It Protects You: NIOSH Approved elastomeric half-mask respirators (EHMRs) and elastomeric quarter-mask respirators (EQMRs) protect you against gases, vapors, and particles when equipped with the appropriate filter, cartridge, or canister.
How Well It Protects Others Around You: Some EHMRs and EQMRs, such as those without exhalation valves, filter the air you breathe out and you can use them to protect others around you. If the EHMR or EQMR do not filter the air you breathe out, you should not use them if your goal is to protect others around you.
Manufacturing Quality: NIOSH Approved EHMRs and EQMRs meet NIOSH requirements including demonstrated manufacturing quality. You can find respirators that meet these standards and more information on their availability on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List.
How Well It Protects Others Around You: Some NIOSH Approved FFRs have exhalation valves that open to let air escape when you breathe out. This makes it easier to breathe and can make the respirator more comfortable to wear. An FFR with an exhalation valve may not protect others as well as one without a valve.
Manufacturing Quality: NIOSH Approved FFRs meet NIOSH requirements including demonstrated manufacturing quality. You can find lists of respirators that meet this standard and more information on their availability on the NIOSH Certified Equipment List.
How Well It Protects Others Around You: Some international FFRs have exhalation valves that open to let air escape when you breathe out. This makes it easier to breathe and can make the respirator more comfortable to wear. An international FFR with an exhalation valve may not protect others as well as one without a valve.
Fit: International FFRs seal against your face around the nose and mouth and are tight-fitting. Since manufacturers designed these respirators for populations outside of the United States, they may not seal as well to your face as a NIOSH Approved respirator.
Manufacturing Quality: International FFRs meet the requirements specified by the country which includes manufacturing quality. However, international standards often do not require the manufacturer to demonstrate quality.
Filtration: BFCs can be disposable or reusable masks that achieve a minimum of 20% filtration efficiency against particles. There are two kinds of BFCs intended to provide a higher level of protection, Enhanced Performance and Enhanced Performance Plus BFCs. These BFCs offer a minimum of 50% and 80% filtration.
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