A self-proclaimed “mask nerd” warns that not all face coverings are alike, but the best ones work wonders.
His unmasking advice hits as cloth coverings are out and CDC-recommended respirators are in. But all the options present a daunting challenge as omicron lurks, but that’s where mechanical engineer and aerosol science expert Aaron Collins comes to the rescue.
“It’s way too confusing for consumers and I don’t blame them for being upset about this,” Collins said during a sit-down with Sen. Edward Markey on Friday that focused on best practices in choosing a mask. “There’s all kinds of weirdness around this.”
Collins, who tests respirators on his Youtube channel, agrees with the CDC’s recommendation to ditch cloth masks for tight-fitting masks that feature polypropylene filters: tightly woven synthetic fibers that create an electrostatic charge, trapping up to 99% of virus particles.
“We used our 1918 pandemic technology to start this. Let’s move on,” Collins said.
He also warned against relying on surgical masks, which feature good materials, but “lack the fit” necessary for strong protection against virus transmission.
There are three major types of respirators available to Americans: the N95, KN95, and KF94, and they’re all a bit different from one another.
The N95 is the “top of the pile,” according to Collins. For one thing, it’s the only respirator mask approved by a U.S. government agency: the National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health, or NIOSH.
The cup-style mask is secured to the face by a headband loop, providing the tightest possible face seal, and therefore offering the highest level of protection against particles, according to Collins. Legitimately tested N95 masks should show the manufacturer name, like 3M, the model, a NIOSH stamp, and a code that begins with the letters “TC.” That code indicates the mask was individually tested and approved.
The next style of mask is the KN95, and picking out an effective respirator from this bunch can get a little trickier. KN95 is the Chinese standard for respirators, and they are not government-regulated.
However, a well-constructed KN95 can offer protection close to the standard of an N95. Consumers should look at the side of a mask, next to the ear loop, where the fabric should carry a label indicating the mask’s standard and manufacturer. Masks that are labeled differently may be counterfeit products that don’t feature the type of filter N95s and real KN95s have, according to Collins.
The final respirator Collins recommends is the KF94, a boat-shaped face mask that has been regulated by the South Korean government since 2009. Like KN95s, KF94s have earloops instead of a headband, so there is a less-tight face seal than offered by the N95. But these masks can offer nearly as strong protection against COVID-19, Collins said.
“They’re my favorite style of earloop masks,” he told Markey.
KF94s are also the only respirators offered in child sizes, making them an excellent option for parents looking to upgrade their kids’ masks.
While Americans can get protection against COVID-19 through vaccines, Collins said wearing respirators offer another way to slow the spread of transmission when the virus mutates.
“This works against every variant we know,” Collins said. “It stops the mode of transmission.”
The Herald will have an extensive guide to navigating COVID-19 in 2022 in Sunday’s edition and online at www.BostonHerald.com.
What does a mask expert recommend you wear? Listen to the @masknerd to protect yourself and others. pic.twitter.com/W6GResZQET
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) January 21, 2022
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