Face Masks and Breathing

[Ray]

When you mention 3-layer masks, is the middle layer a 95%BFE filter material equivalent or something else?

I was referring to the masks Debbie was making.

A full-mask layer with bacterial filtration efficiency of 95% at 3 microns would certainly add some extra protection but might decrease breathability or washability. (I usually avoid the term BFE on public fora to avoid irritating some of my Middle Eastern friends....) That said an N95 mask will filter 95% of particles at 0.3 microns.

We use a spray bottle to test the fit of our masks to make sure we can't smell or taste the aerosol. A similar test of an effective filter might be whether it blocks the smell of smell cigarrette smoke.

Hopefully by this winter, when the virus will seem to be everywhere, we will all have access to N95 full facepiece respirators or better when in dry, indoor environments with others. And don't forget your goggles....

Hopefully this CDC will maintain sufficient funding to provide statistically and financially reasonable ways for us to cut risk. I certainly don't want the balance between scientific statistics and finances to be left to those in Washington, who still move their lips when they read and count on fingers and toes.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk