To our Health Experts a question on masks, page 1

Ok...I went and Googled nanomask and found a FAQ page that I wasn't too impressed with...here is the linklink
link

and here are the two FAQs I didn't like...

How often should I replace the NanoFilter?
In a hotzone, where H5N1, SARS, influenza, or any other deadly pathogen is known to be active,
you should replace the NanoFilters every 10-20 minutes. Do not remove the NanoMask while in the
hotzone. Leave the area to a secure place, then replace the NanoFilter. Otherwise, replace the
Nanofilter every 24 hours. When you do, wash your hands, and disinfect the NanoMask.

Why isn't NanoMask NIOSH certified?
The answer comes from the vice-president of marketing for Emergency Filtration, Mr. Pete Clark:
"We had to validate our technology against bacterial and viral challenges and NIOSH was not able
to provide biological validation. They currently test against a challenge of sodium chloride which
is not able to measure the effectiveness of the nano-particle enhancement. We are developing the
nanoparticle technology in conjunction with the U.S. Military and sodium chloride testing was not
sufficient. We are registered with NIOSH and still intend to submit the mask for certification but
had to validate the technology first. In any case, we are not striving to achieve the N-95 standard
because we do not want to produce a 95% efficient product such as N-95. Our goal is to produce a mask
that is as close to 100% efficient as possible and believe enhanced filters are the way to achieve
this."


The filters last 10 to 20 MINUTES?! That's not good in my house...I have 4 kids...this would cost me waaaaaaaaaay more than I could ever hope to afford. Also...the answer as to why they aren't ok'd by NIOH I'm not sure about...anyone care to put this into a better light or is it as bad as it sounds? lol

[edit on 10/9/05 by maidenwolf]

Hey, I've recently been looking for masks as well. Does anyone know of a good site where I can purchace N95-compliant masks in semi-bulk? (20 or 50 of them.)

Oh, wait, this site seems to have them:
www.chinookmed.com...

This place has them too:
www.natlallergy.com...


[edit on 9-10-2005 by Toxic Fox]

I got Nanomasks from 2H distributers for several reasons. We live far away from a big city and then, we live far away from other houses. Our strategy is that once this thing hits (if it does) to wear the masks only if we need to go to the store or come into contact with other people, and we're planning on that being as infrequently as possible.

Emergency Filtration

The problem with the other masks is that they don't fit tightly on the face.

The unique design and enhanced facial seal allows the NanoMask to overcome the most critical failing of typical N-95 masks. An inability to effectively seal against the face and filter inhaled and exhaled breath that will typically follow the path of least resistance; around the sides of the mask.

maidenwolf, your link took me to microsoft.com.

Here are two of the 3M brand..
Here

here

and a newer kind that is NOT 3M brand

and here

[edit on 10/9/05 by maidenwolf]

I was wondering when this would crop up.

N95 masks should be fine and its what we use in the hopsital. N100 masks give slightly better protection but they are 4X the cost

N95 masks fit the guidelines as put foth by OSHA and the CDC. The 95 referes to the percentage filtered out. N99's give you 95 percent and the N-100's give 99.7

Recent CDC infection control guidance documents provide recommendations that health care workers protect themselves from diseases potentially spread through the air (such as SARS or Tuberculosis) by wearing a fit-tested respirator at least as protective as a NIOSH-approved N-95 respirator.

An N-95 respirator is one of nine types of disposable particulate respirators. Particulate respirators are also known as "air-purifying respirators" because they protect by filtering particles out of the air you breathe. Workers can wear any one of the particulate respirators for protection against diseases spread through the air- if they are NIOSH approved and if they have been properly fit-tested and maintained. NIOSH-approved disposable respirators are marked with the manufacturer's name, the part number (P/N), the protection provided by the filter (e.g. N-95), and "NIOSH."
www.cdc.gov...

To go to the store or evacuate during an outbreak these should be just fine. However, if they become moist, they loose effectiveness. Just breathing will eventualy dampen them (In a 12 hour shift we can go through many) plus as the become moist it gets harder to breathe through them. They also need to fit snugly. We actually have to go through a process at work where they put a hood over you and spray albuterol to make sure its a good fit aka Fit testing.

I'm playing both sides of the street and will have both the N95 and nanomasks.

One more question, FredT?
I've seen info saying that athose filters have a shelf life. I think I've read it's a year or so. Do you think that is true, after a year they are less effective?

~~~~~~~
More on the nanomask and how it works:

Manufacturers and distributors of the so-called nanomask say that with every report of bird flu concerns, sales spike. The masks, specifically designed to keep out biological hazards, including the bird flu virus, started selling swiftly following the comments last week of U.N. health chief David Nabarro who said that a mutation of the virus affecting Asia could trigger new, widespread outbreaks.

And with every new report about the virus, people buy more masks.

*snip*
Beplate claims his masks do better thanks to a coating that reacts to contaminants at the mask surface.
He says that electric charges within the nanoparticle coating and among a contaminant react, rendering
the contaminant inactive.

"It works kind of like a magnet," Beplate said, but declined to go into further detail, citing copyright
concerns.

www.gotpollution.com...

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