With the prevalence of coronavirus, using face masks has become a norm. Face masks come in a variety of shapes, sizes, with filters, without filters. And face masks with filters do protect you better as compared to those with no filters. If you have a face mask without a filter, you can buy one or multiple filters for face masks separately.
Wearing a face mask can help to protect against COVID-19 by reducing the spread of respiratory droplets that can carry the virus. Do remember to cover your mouth and nose with a face mask, before you interact with an individual infected with the virus. By wearing a face mask, you can prevent the droplets - that are released when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes - from infecting others. To get the best protection against COVID-19, we recommend using a face mask with filters that fits properly and is made of a high-quality, tightly-woven material.
A face mask filter is a small, disposable material woven into the face mask fabric. The filter is typically made of non-woven materials, such as polypropylene or polyester, which can effectively capture and filter out infectious particles. Some filters for face masks are designed to be inserted into the mask's pocket, while others are attached to the mask itself. Filters are not a replacement for face masks, but rather they provide an additional layer of protection. The filters can help improve the effectiveness of face masks by ensuring that they fit properly and remain securely in place. To understand the significance of choosing the best filter for a face mask, read this article in full.
Typically, you will find three types of filters for face masks - non-woven, cotton filters, carbon filters, and HEPA filters.
Non-woven filters for face masks are typically made from a thick web of fibers that are fused together using heat, pressure, or chemical treatment. These filters can effectively capture and filter out small particles, such as bacteria and viruses.
The activated carbon filters for face masks, on the other hand, are made from a form of carbon that has been treated to make it highly porous. These filters can adsorb, or trap, a wide range of pollutants, including gasses and odors.
Both non-woven and activated carbon filters can be effective in helping to protect individuals from harmful airborne particles, depending on the specific situation and the type of face mask they are used with.
The HEPA filters for face masks are made with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) material. It’s designed to capture and filter out small particles. These filters are commonly used in air purifiers and vacuum cleaners to effectively remove allergens and other pollutants from the air.
When used in face masks, HEPA filters can provide an additional layer of protection against harmful airborne particles. The face masks with HEPA filters are ideal for use in living rooms, offices, and in places where individuals spend most of their time.
Each type of filter has its own unique features and benefits, so it is important to choose a filter that is breathable and fits snugly on your face.
Before you opt to buy a face mask, do remember that no two face masks offer the same level of protection against infectious diseases. But face masks with filters provide better protection as compared to those with no filters. Two of the most important factors that you must consider before buying filters for face masks are: breathability and fit. The type of filter material is also an important consideration.
Filtration efficiency in face masks refers to the ability of the mask to filter out infectious, air borne particles and dust. The higher the filtration efficiency, the more effective the face mask. It is important to choose a face mask with a high filtration efficiency to help reduce the risk of infection and provide optimum level of protection.
It is also important to choose a filter that is the right size and shape for your face mask, as a filter that is too large or too small may not fit properly and may not provide the level of protection that you need.
You should also consider the effectiveness of the filter. To measure the effectiveness of a face mask filter, check if it can capture and filter out infectious particles and dust. You must opt for a face mask filter that has been tested and certified by a reputable organization, such as the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), to ensure that it meets the established standards for protection against COVID-19 and other air borne diseases.
If you are looking for the best filters for facemasks, for daily use, we have got you covered.
According to a research study, face masks with multiple layers of filters offer adequate protection against airborne diseases, but filters are not reusable, and you must replace them after every 12 hours.
These filters for face masks can capture and filter airborne, infectious particles as small as 2.5 microns in size. This size is quite big as compared to a free-floating coronavirus, but most infectious germs and particles reside in saliva or salt, so considering this, this size fits within the range.
The N95 face mask with filters made from Propylene fibers is also a good option, as it protects against infectious particles, thanks to no gap between the woven fibers.
With COVID-19 taking hold, wearing a face mask has become mandatory. When selecting the right filter for a face mask, you should check the specifications, such as filtration efficiency, type of filter, material used, the fit, and compliance with the pre-defined standards by the regulatory bodies.
Selecting the best filters for face masks can provide you with optimum level of protection against harmful airborne particles and diseases - COVID-19 and influenza.
