Masks Could Soon Come With Labels Saying How Well They Work, But 1st PPE Industry Must Agree

[appalachiablue]

'Consumer masks could soon come with labels saying how well they work.' But first, industry players must overcome fierce disagreements that have resembled ‘cats and dogs fighting.’ Washington Post, Oct, 20, 2020. - Ed.:

As millions of Americans adopted mask-wearing this year to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, they confronted a wild West of options, including artisanal products sold on Etsy, cotton coverings sewn by their family members and mass-produced items marketed by favorite retailers. The personal protective equipment industry is trying to inject some clarity into the mask-purchasing experience by creating a uniform set of standards to show consumers how well the products would protect them and those around them.

But the industry players first have to overcome fierce disagreements among themselves, a rift that has delayed a process that is supposed to help businesses and schools reopen in 2021.





Company executives and scientists have spent months on the painstaking effort, which has been rife with squabbling over how much protection they can and should promise, among other issues. And it’s unclear whether the federal government plans to bless any new standards, potentially scaring companies away from making any significant upgrades.

This has been a nightmare,” said Jeffrey Stull, president of International Personnel Protection, who is organizing the group’s discussions on a volunteer basis. “We really see a whole spectrum. Some individuals say we need a standard, we need to get that standard out, let’s make it a bit more lenient. … And then we have some people who say, ‘No, this has to be absolutely right.’ ”..In one of several barbed attacks aimed at Anthony S. Fauci on Monday, Trump slammed his top infectious-disease specialist’s use of a Washington Nationals mask, saying “it is not up to the high standards that he should be exposing.”

Fauci has advocated for months that Americans wear masks to protect others and frequently wears a mask in line with CDC...https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/10/20/face-mask-coronavirus-standards/

[hlthe2b]

1. If only the materials used, thickness (#layers) & absence of exhalation valves were the only issue

Filtering capacity versus "breathability."

But the fit likewise makes a big difference. Even while we can't approach an N95 (or other specific respirators) in creating a seal as with a properly fitted mask there are still modifications that can be made to ordinary face coverings. Attempts to make it fit closely around the top of the nose and cheeks with moldable nose wires and the ability to snug around the ears can make a significant difference.

So, far, the filtering capacity of various materials versus breathability/comfort has been looked at, but the rest is the wild wild West.

Good luck to those who may try to tackle this, But the first thing they need to do is crack down on companies and ads suggesting that plastic face shields alone suffice. Like this one: ( )

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/n8qd/zverse-zshield-be-the-shield

[appalachiablue]

2. Shields alone are clearly insufficient. Folks need to decide standards real soon.

(WaPo) These disputes are expected to come to a head in the coming weeks. By the end of this month, the working group hopes to send out a version of the standards to experts in protective clothing and equipment, most of whom have not been involved in crafting the language. They have a month to send in their ballots, which can include suggestions for changes.

This process is far faster than usual. The safety qualities of a variety of consumer products, including car seats and fireworks, are graded by either government agencies or industry groups as a way to set standards, inform consumers and keep companies honest. Those evaluations typically take more than a year to roll out.

Rarely has there been the rapid growth of a product that has occurred in the mask market this year, and the diversity of products has been astounding, from “gaiters” worn around the neck to high-end masks made of silk or lace. Just in April, buyers purchased 12 million masks on Etsy.

“Whether it’s a standard or whether it’s something equivalent to the Consumer Reports rating (of) good, better or best, it is probably useful because otherwise people are lost,” said Philip Harber, a professor of public health at the University of Arizona who studies the use of respirators.

He warned that given some Americans’ hostility toward masks, the standards have to be “very, very, very simple.”