A User's Guide To Masks

  • October 13, 2021 8:18 PM PDT
    A User's Guide To Masks A growing body of evidence supports the idea that wearing face masks in public, even when you feel well, can help curb the spread of the coronavirus — since people can spread the virus even without showing symptoms. That's the main reason to wear a mask: to protect other people from you.To get more news about [url=https://www.tnkme.com/tag/disposable-antiepidemic-mask/index_1.html]antiepidemic mask factory outlet[/url], you can visit tnkme.com official website. Face masks can also offer the wearer some protection — though how much varies greatly, depending on the type of mask. No mask will offer full protection, and they should not be viewed as a replacement for physical distancing of at least 6 feet from others, frequent hand-washing and avoiding crowds. When you combine masks with those measures, they can make a big difference. [url=https://www.tnkme.com/][/url] But what kind of mask is best? When choosing a mask, experts say focus on the fabric, fit and breathability. How well a mask protects is a function of both what it's made of and how well it seals to your face. But if you can't breathe well through it, then you're less likely to keep it on.Here's a look at different kinds of masks you might consider and how effective they are at protecting the people around you — and you as well. Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people should wear cloth face coverings in public, we'll talk about fabric masks first. But if you've purchased a medical mask or respirator, scroll down for some important notes — like how to spot if you've got a fake. First, consider the fabric itself. "The tightness of the weave is really important. That's the first thing I would ask people to look into," says Supratik Guha, a professor of molecular engineering at the University of Chicago. To check your fabric, hold it up to a light: If you can easily see the outline of the individual fibers, it's not going to make a great filter. Researchers say a tight-weave 100% cotton is a good bet. That's because at the microscopic level, the natural fibers in cotton tend to have more three-dimensional structure than synthetic fibers, which are smoother, says Christopher Zangmeister, a researcher at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. That 3D structure can create more roadblocks that can stop an incoming particle, he explains. Zangmeister co-authored a new study in ACS Nano that tested how well dozens of different materials filtered. While two synthetics, including one that's 100% polyester, did well, most synthetics ranked near the bottom, he says. But even a mask made out of synthetic fibers is better than no mask at all, he says. Think multiple layers. Several studies have found that masks made of multiple layers are more effective at blocking small particles. A good option: a mask made of two layers of a tight-weave fabric with a built-in pocket where you can place a filter, says May Chu, an epidemiologist at the Colorado School of Public Health who co-authored a paper published on June 2 in Nano Letters on the filtration efficiency of household mask materials.The best bet for the material to slip in as a filter is polypropylene, which is derived from plastic, says Chu. "If you go to Walmart, you look for Oly-fun, which is the brand name of that fabric. It's also called spunbond," says Chu, who's a scientific adviser to the World Health Organization and helped craft its recent detailed guidance on cloth masks. Chu says polypropylene is great as a physical filter but has another benefit: It holds an electrostatic charge. In other words, it uses the power of static electricity. Think of the static cling that can happen when you rub two pieces of fabric together, says Chu. That's basically what's happening with this fabric: That "cling" effect traps incoming — and outgoing — droplets. "That's what you want — the cling is what's important," Chu says.