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  • Filter or no Filter?
  • kristi woo
Filter or no Filter?

Just a little more info for those of you ordering masks with me, or wondering in general about mask filters, what they are made of, and perhaps, what alternatives there are.

I will firstly state that I am neither a hepa filter expert, or mask expert, or a scientist in any terms. I did research and will talk briefly about what I have learned and list below some of the sites I referenced. I am, however, a quality designer and maker, and, to the best of my ability, I have been building the best masks that I can with some exceptional professional sewers.

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In the past weeks, there have been a few articles and a youtube video reporting that Hepa filters contain fibreglass, so they are not suitable to be used so close nex the mouth and nose. This makes sense, as small fiberglass fibres that are in air filters could potentially be breathed in and be damaging to lunds over time. Air filters do contain fibreglass, so I will not be using the air filters. However, there has also been evidence and statements from manufacturers, and vacuum cleaner specialists that speak about vacuum cleaner bags efficacy, what they are made of and how they are made. They are not made with fibreglass. Theya re made from meltblown polypropelene, which is not fibreglass. It is a plastic derivative that does not contain fibreglass. They have also been deemed as alternatives to N95, and surgical masks through academic mask filtration efficacy studies done in 2006 to 2013.


 Here are some of the links that I looked through for info:

 Alternate filter efficacy studies and charts:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7108646/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258525804_Testing_the_Efficacy_of_

Homemade_Masks_Would_They_Protect_in_an_Influenza_Pandemic

Tests and info from Vacuum Cleaner specialists and manufacturers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmYt_wtaLCk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnN6IHtq5gc
 
Alternate Mask materials and care:

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Filtration-Efficiency-and-Pressure-Drop-Across-Materials-Tested-with-Aerosols-of-Bacillus_tbl1_258525804

https://diymask.site/

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/04/22/840146830/adding-a-nylon-stocking-layer-could-boost-protection-from-cloth-masks-study-finds

  • kristi woo

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