Respiratory Protection

Masks, Hysteria, and Bad Decision Making

The following article is not meant to give medical direction. All readers are encouraged to take direction from their personal care providers.

As Covid-19 continues to spread rapidly across the country, a global focus is being drawn to masks and respiratory protection. As with anything the media touches, the consumer is bestowed information that is often incomplete, inaccurate, or flat our wrong. Take a minute to read the following information to learn a little bit about respiratory protection as it relates to infectious diseases. 

Types of masks:

Surgical Masks: This is the (often) blue or white mask that your dentist uses to keep from drooling into your open mouth. It provides no seal and is simply designed to keep the mask wearer’s mucus and fluid droplets from entering your body. As this relates to COVID-19, if an infected person is wearing a surgical mask, there would be a *slightly* lowered chance of them passing the virus via their mouth or nose.

Homemade Masks:

Bras, T-Shirts, Grandma’s cute handkerchiefs, etc. None of which provide any respiratory protection. They *may* provide some benefits in regard to mitigating personal droplet expulsion. 

Respirator Filter Letter Classes:

N-Not Oil Resistant, Particulate matter only

R-Resistant to Oils/Organic Vapors (Paints, aerosols)

P-Oil Proof (To their Design Rating) (Harsh Chemicals)

CBRN – Chemical, Biological, Radiation, Nuclear (Filter against 110 known Chemical Agents, 13 Biological Agents, 16 Radiological and Nuclear Agents)

Respirator Filter Rating Classes:

95: Removes 95% of particles that are .3 microns in diameter

99: Removes 99 of particles that are .3 microns in diameter

100: Removes 100% of particles that are .3 microns in diameter

            So, an N-95 Mask can only filter out 95% of Particulate Matter that is at least .3 Microns in size

In order for any fitted mask to be effective, the wearer must be clean shaven and fit tested (see “Fit Testing” below)

Quarter Mask/Dust Mask:

These masks are fibrous and come with different ratings. These masks are what the typical healthcare worker or carpenter would be seen wearing. They provide a relatively good seal to the face. A quarter mask would provide good protection against droplet transmission if the wearer had COVID-19. Usually, Quarter masks and Dust Masks are throw-away, 1 time use items that do not accept external filtering cartridges.

Half Mask Respirator:

This is the mask that you would see an industrial painter wearing. A hard-plastic shell provides the shape of the mask while a pliable rubber seal fits over the nose and under the chin of the wearer. One center mounted filter or two filters on either side mount to the mask to provide protection. This mask, when fitted properly, would provide a perfect seal against leaks and droplet transmission.

Full Mask Respirator:

The full mask respirator is all of the same principals as a half mask, with the addition of a built-in full face protective shield. The rubber seal begins at the forehead and ends under the chin.

PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator):

A PAPR is a full respiratory protection system consisting of a power pack, a filter system, fan/blower, and a hood. The fan creates negative pressure in the filter causing air to be sucked through. This creates positive pressure in the hood, providing the wearer with filtered air with no need to be fit tested.

Fit Testing:

An ill-fitting mask may cause more harm than good. The best rule of thumb is as follows: 

• If an employer *requires* you to wear a mask in a *hazardous or potentially hazardous atmosphere or condition* you must be fit tested
• This is your employer’s responsibility, failure to fit test employees working in the above circumstance is ILLEGAL.
• The fit test must follow Appendix A in 1910.134

Mask Care:

DO NOT REUSE DUST MASKS DO NOT REUSE DUST MASKS DO NOT REUSE DUST MASKS DO NOT REUSE DUST MASKS. I don’t care what Johns Hopkins or the WHO has to say about this one. Until there is a formal training and adequate sanitization equipment rolled out to all affected personnel, reusing a dust mask or N95 paper mask is completely and utterly irresponsible. 

For masks with cartridge filters, replace used cartridges with new cartridges whenever your wear time exceeds the manufacture’s specifications or if the mask has been inundated with a contaminant. Wipe down mask surfaces with alcohol pads or other approved cleaners. Store in dry locations and in sealed, clean, plastic bags.

Droplet Transmission and Virus Spread

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 19) It is transmissible via droplets. A droplet is a bodily fluid that is greater than 5-10 Microns in size. Droplet transmission occurs (typically) between individuals 1 meter or less apart when a droplet from an infected individual enters the EYES, NOSE, or MOUTH of another individual. 

COVID-19 has varying (and disputed) infectious capabilities on different surfaces, but the general consensus is that COVID-19 can be infectious for greater than a day on most all surfaces and less than a day when a droplet is floating in the air. 

This means that if an infected person sneezes on a handrail, and an individual uses that same handrail a day later, then wipes their mouth, they could transmit COVID-19

Droplet VS Airborne

An airborne virus would be capable of transmitting in matter smaller than 5 Microns over distances greater than 1 meter. At this time, COVID-19 is not considered an airborne virus.

Why did the CDC initially say that masks were of no use to the average citizen?

The CDC, WHO, media outlets, and COVID-19 Task force initially stated that masks were ineffective against COVID-19 for the average American because the primary concern at the time was to ensure that medical providers could access masks first. This was a purposeful lie in order to stifle out the mad rush for citizens to obtain masks for personal use. It was common knowledge at the time that masks use by infected individuals would aid in stopping the droplet spread of COVID-19. This is why the WHO, CDC, and Task force are now pointing citizens in the direction of homemade masks, as it *may* help, without taking resources away from healthcare providers.  

So how do I truly stay protected?

Isolation. The surefire way of not communicating or transmitting COVID-19 is by isolating yourself from the virus or carriers of the virus. 

If isolation is simply not possible, a fit tested mask with an N-95 or greater filter will likely prevent a virus from entering your lungs; however, your eyes are still a potential avenue for the virus to enter the body. Ocular Tropism would only be avoided by a full mask respirator or the addition of rubber sealed goggles in addition to a half mask fit tested respirator.

Additionally, if exposure occurs and an individual were to be wearing all adequate PPE, the PPE itself, exposed skin and hair, as well as the clothing the individual is wearing is also contaminated, so that individual would have to follow adequate decontamination and sanitation techniques to ensure there was not transmission of the virus.

This leads to high level, complex steps that the average individual is incapable of.