A Guide to Disposable Face Mask Use
A Guide to Disposable Face Mask Use
In 2021, we’ve become accustomed to checking our bags for our face masks or grabbing one before leaving the house in the morning, and with good reason. Face masks have been scientifically proven to stem the spread of Covid-19 by reducing the number of infectious moisture droplets transmitted between people through coughing, sneezing, talking, and exhaling.
In a study published by Scientific Reports, participants wearing a surgical mask or KN95 mask were found to emit 60% fewer airborne particles than those who didn’t wear one. Wearing a mask is proven to reduce particle transmission, but in order to achieve the most effective protection, different types of masks are required in different situations.
In this article, we’ll explain what different types of masks are used for, and what harmful materials masks can protect against.
Who do different types of face masks protect?
Surgical Masks
Surgical masks are quite loose-fitting and cover the nose and mouth. They are designed with horizontal pleats that accommodate the protrusion of the nose and jaw when stretched over the lower face. Surgical masks do not have adjustable straps but the straps can be tied in a knot to adjust their size for a better fit. They are also made with a thin piece of wire that covers the bridge of the nose to create a seal with the skin.
Surgical masks are designed to provide one-way protection that captures droplets the wearer emits when exhaling, coughing, sneezing, talking, or moving their lips. Surgical masks do not protect the wearer from catching infections in the air around them. Instead, they protect those around the wearer from any infectious materials they might exhale.
Do surgical masks filter air?
Surgical masks are designed to let the wearer breathe easily while filtering out moisture droplets and particles of a certain size. This means you won’t have a problem breathing when you wear a surgical mask.
Do surgical masks filter viruses?
We often hear people asking ‘do surgical masks stop germs?’ and the answer is yes, but it depends on who needs to be protected. Surgical masks are effective at protecting those around you from your own emissions when you wear them.
Surgical masks are designed to filter out a certain level of bacteria depending on which type they are. Type I, II, and IIR face masks are tested to filter out a certain percentage of bacteria from the wearer’s nose and mouth, and only work one way round (wearing them the other way round won’t produce the same results). They don’t afford the wearer the same level of protection when breathing in.
Surgical masks are designed to filter out a certain level of bacteria depending on which type they are. Type I, II, and IIR face masks are tested to filter out a certain percentage of bacteria from the wearer’s nose and mouth, and only work one way round (wearing them the other way round won’t produce the same results). They don’t afford the wearer the same level of protection when breathing in.
Steroplast Type IIR Surgical Masks
PPE or Respirator Masks
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) masks, sometimes called respirators, are designed to protect the wearer from harmful materials in the air, including droplets and finer aerosol particles. These types of masks are made out of sturdy, layered material that creates a ‘tent’ around the nose and mouth. They are designed to provide a complete seal against the skin of the face, with adjustable earloops so they can be more easily fitted.
Steroplast FFP3 Valved Face Mask
Some respirators will incorporate a valve that opens when the wearer breathes out to help with breathing and keep the inside environment cooler and less humid. The vale will close when the wearer breathes in to protect them from harmful particles in the air.
Steroplast KN95 Face Masks
FFP and N/KN masks should be fitted to the wearer’s face to ensure a complete seal is created between their face and the mask. The HSE recommends respirator mask fit-testing and carrying out a pre-use seal check every time one is put on.
PPE masks and respirators should be used when the wearer needs to be protected from infection transmission, or from harmful substances in the air, offering up to 99% filtration protection.
Find out what each type of disposable mask does in our blog A Guide to Disposable Face Mask Types.
| Mask | Mask Type | Protects | Effective Against |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type I Face Mask | Surgical mask | Members of the public | Airborne droplets from coughs, sneezes, and exhaling |
| Type II Face Mask | Surgical mask | Patients/ vulnerable people | Airborne droplets from coughs, sneezes and exhaling |
| Type IIR Face Mask | Surgical mask | Patients/ vulnerable people | Airborne droplets from coughs, sneezes and exhaling (also splash-resistant) |
| FFP1 Respirator Mask | PPE mask/ respirator | The wearer | Non-toxic solid particles like sawdust |
| FFP2 Respirator Mask | PPE mask/ respirator | The wearer | Airborne droplets and aerosol particles |
| FFP3 Respirator Mask | PPE mask/ respirator | The wearer | Airborne droplets and aerosol particles |
| N95 Face Mask | PPE mask/ respirator | The wearer | Airborne droplets and aerosol particles |
| KN95 Face Mask | PPE mask/ respirator | The wearer | Airborne droplets and aerosol particles |
When to Wear a Surgical Mask
Appropriate uses for surgical masks:
- By dentists when examining and working on patients.
- By doctors when examining and working on patients.
- By medical staff in an operating room.
- By care home staff when tending to service users.
- By people in a support bubble when visiting or tending to a vulnerable person.
When to Wear a PPE Mask or Respirator
Appropriate uses for PPE masks and respirators:
- By people carrying out activities that produce harmful substances like sanding, sawing, and cleaning out derelict buildings.
- By people handling or working near asbestos.
- By people handling or coming into contact with fungal spores.
- By vulnerable people when interacting with others indoors or when not social distancing to protect against virus transmission.
What other harmful materials will disposable masks protect against?
Face masks are being used by the general public every day now, but they’ve been around for much longer than Covid-19. Wearing a face mask to protect others from your cold, or even to disguise your celebrity identity was normal behaviour in East Asia for many years before even one face covering was spotted in the UK being worn by a Westerner.
So what other harmful substances and infectious illnesses do masks control the transmission of?
Do surgical masks protect against flu?
Thanks to the efficacy of masks in slowing the spread of Covid-19, many people have thought to start using them to reduce infections of flu in the colder months. We often hear people asking ‘do surgical masks prevent flu?’ or ‘do surgical masks work against flu?’.
Influenza is a respiratory disease that is transmitted in airborne droplets, much like Covid-19. Flu can be passed between people through coughing and talking. The important thing to remember is that surgical masks are only effective in protecting other people from your own germs, bacteria, and infections. If you have flu, going out in a surgical mask will greatly reduce your risk of transmitting it to others, however, if you want to protect yourself against flu, consider an FFP3 mask or KN95 mask.
Do surgical masks protect against smoke?
While surgical masks only protect other people from germs and bacteria the wearer exhales, an FFP3 mask or KN95 mask is effective at protecting against smoke–like that which comes off of wildfires. KN95 masks filter out particles that are larger than 0.3 microns, and FFP masks filter out particles that are larger than 0.6 microns, so they’re efficient in keeping out 2.5 micron-sized particles found in wildfire smoke.
Do surgical masks protect against pollution?
Wondering ‘do surgical masks work for air pollution?’ Surgical masks don’t protect the wearer, however, respirators and PPE masks might help. While face masks can filter out particles at 0.3 microns in size, many motor vehicle emissions are smaller than this.
In a study published by Bio Med Central, participants wearing N95 face masks walking around downtown Bejing were found to have lower blood pressure than those not wearing masks. Of participants wearing masks, those with heart disease were found to have improved blood flow and oxygen delivery to the heart.
However, pollution particles of around 10 microns are found to lead to some of the largest respiratory problems when inhaled. So wearing respirators or PPE masks is likely to provide more protection than not.
Do surgical masks help with allergies?
While surgical masks are only effective at protecting others from germs and bacteria the wearer exhales, respirators and PPE masks are shown to be effective at protecting the wearer from respiratory allergies.
In a study published by the National Institute of Health, nurses were seen to suffer fewer symptoms of allergic rhinitis after having worn face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It’s reasonable to believe that face masks help sufferers of allergies. FFP3 masks filter out particles larger than 0.6 microns, and KN95 masks filter out particles larger than 0.3 microns. With pollen around 10 to 100 microns in size, fungal spores around 2 to 50 microns, and dust mite faeces around 10 to 40 microns in size, they should be effectively filtered away from the nose and mouth when using a mask.
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