Smoke particles have a size of about 2.5 micrometers. Some particles are bigger, others smaller.
The COVID virus is about 0.1 to 0.4 micrometers in size, and hence dramatically smaller and more likely to penetrate a mask that isn’t incredibly dense, such as a well-fitting N95 that is properly sealed to the face. N95 masks are difficult to use, and they’re only used when the alternative could be dangerous.
According to studies done during COVID on the proper usage of N95s, compliance is high. It’s not Great Even with healthcare professionals It is too onerous to continue using it over time. Even though N95s may be useful for short or moderate periods of time in situations where there are bio-or other particulate contaminants, it would become unfeasible to require constant N95 use, as such compliance in a hospital setting is deemed impractical.
Here’s why. How many of those who used N95 during COVID did it every time?
People make shortcuts. People reuse masks. They don’t properly seal them. They don’t shave as close as required to fit properly. There are many reasons, but they all have the same result: even though N95s may be effective at any given time, the system will eventually break down.
The N95s can be very uncomfortable to wear.
Some people still use surgical masks or cloth masks today.
As this NYT article basically admits: anything less than an n95 mask is useless for filtering wildfire smoke. Wildfire smoke is almost entirely made up of particles that are substantially larger than COVID.
Staying indoors is the best way to avoid breathing in air pollutants as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts across the U.S. Wearing an N95 mask, which covers your nose and mouth, will filter the air.https://t.co/KVJ9BJAdY0
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 7, 2023
Sure enough Wildfire smoke can be filtered out by N95 masksIt is important to wear one of these if your asthma or other respiratory conditions are made worse by smoke. While wearing one has its downsides it may also help.
Not all masks are created equal. A surgical mask, scarf or bandanna won’t do much to keep you from breathing in pollutants.
N95 filters particles as small as 0.3 micrometers. The width of one human hair is about 60 micrometers. according to California’s health department.
Use respirator masks or N95 facemasks instead. You can buy them in hardware stores and online. Be sure to cover your nose and mouth.
Masks less effective than the N95s are worthless. This is well-known to anyone who has ever used a mask.
It is no surprise that the Times, as well as public health officials, are quick in pointing out the uselessness of surgical masks and other masks to filter particles from the air.
You can also find out more about this by clicking here. Abstract by 3M regarding the use and respirators Respirators are only able to moderate the risk of infection with some biological contaminants. Surgical masks don’t protect the wearer at all, but rather the patient, by diverting droplets away from where the surgeon is looking. The masks do prevent ingestion by the user.
Please note that the penetration of contaminants through the filter is not the only source of exposure. There are other potential sources of exposure, including faceseal leakage or leakage due to improper maintenance. Wearing a respirator without needing it may also contribute. All of these factors need to be addressed and controlled. For example, all particulate respirators that are designed to seal to the face (including filtering facepiece respirators) can be fit tested using the saccharin or BitrexTM qualitative fit test methods, or using appropriate quantitative fit test methods such as the ambient particle counting method using the TSI® PortaCount®. It is essential that respirators are properly maintained and used by the wearer.
Note that respirators can help reduce the exposure to airborne contaminants, but they do not prevent inhalation. When properly chosen, used, and maintained, respiratory devices can reduce exposure to levels considered safe for non-biological particle concentrations. Although they can reduce the risk of exposure to biological particles, they cannot eliminate it.
The N95s do a good job of reducing non-biological particles, like smoke, in the air, but they are not as effective at preventing infections because there are many failure points. You can ruin the benefit of the mask by touching the outside without first washing your hands. Taking it off and putting it back on–it’s worthless. It’s worse than nothing because you have sealed the virus in your mouth or nose.
The New York Times’s advice regarding how to deal with wildfire smoke makes sense. The N95 filter will reduce your exposure to smoke over a few days and it is better than nothing.
The advice, however, also shows, inadvertently how ridiculous the advice was about masking during the COVID. Few people consistently wore N95 face masks, and even fewer did so correctly and consistently. Even if the masks were worn consistently, failure was almost certain to occur at some stage over the two-year period.
That is the best protection you can get. The surgical mask, the cloth mask, and even bandannas weren’t worth it. All of them are useless for fighting wildfire smoke. This is something we all understand.
During COVID, this obvious and basic truth was thrown out of the window. Faucism and mask fascisms hypnotized people into accepting a falsehood. Many people still today believe in the fantasy that all of that masking achieved anything.
As a mitigation measure for the entire population, masks would be useless, not because none could work at all times, but because they were required to work consistently, over years.
We never came close to achieving this goal.