There are a number of things that you can get from inhaling airborne particles. Particles that are floating in the air you breathe. For instance, in the event of heavy smoke during the wildfire season. You can inhale tiny particles of wood that can get lodged into your respiratory tract. There have been cases of individuals being hospitalized after inhaling smoke from wood that had Poison Ivy on it. Although wearing a normal paper dust mask can help, it doesn’t give full protection.
The N95 dust mask is a NIOSH-approved respiratory mask. It is designed to keep the wearer from inhaling airborne particles too small to be seen by the naked eye. It fits the face of the person perfectly when properly fitted. Thus making it a good facial piece to use when you’re exposed to large amounts of dust.
With the level of pollution nowadays, it’s important to keep ourselves protected. This includes dust and smoke as we spend time outside doing our daily activities or exercising. The N95 is recommended by NIOSH because of its effectiveness in blocking out particulates in the air. Below you will find a list of some of the things that the N95 will protect you against:
Mold
In the event that your activity involves removing mold patches in your home or somewhere else, using an n95 face mask can be a useful tool. Workers who have respiratory diseases are strongly encouraged to use this style of mask since mold may greatly increase their chances of compromising their health without proper protection.
VIRUSES
Viruses are the common culprit of the flu. It’s easy to catch since it can easily be carried away by the air due to its small size. The CDC also recommends wearing the N95 respirator as it can provide greater protection than a normal dust mask due to the adjustment it provides to the user.
DUST MITES
Allergens such as dust mites can trigger your allergies and make your life miserable. They’re tiny and translucent which makes them even more difficult to detect with the naked eye. Dust mites measure about 0.2 to 0.3 mm which can be effectively filtered out by the N95 masks.
AIRBORNE BACTERIA
The CDC has confirmed and even suggested that people use face masks – particularly those that have a tight fit around the face such as the n95 face mask – in order to avoid catching airborne bacteria such as the ones that can cause tuberculosis. The N95 mask fits the rating of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in protecting against these kinds of airborne diseases and bacteria.
SOOT
The N95 respirator masks can be effective protection against soot. There are even some designs that come with a charcoal layer that can provide relief against obnoxious odors from mildew, ashes, and soot.
It is important to remember that even though the n95 mask can be useful in filtering out particulates in the air, it can only do so much at higher levels of contamination within the air. If you’re constantly being exposed to high levels of dust, pollution, or fumes, you will also be required to wear a different kind of mask or buy an n95 mask that is reusable.
The effectiveness of N95 masks has been proven to be effective through testing laboratory-certified professionals. The best way to protect yourself is to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. If you are in need of an N95 mask for personal or professional use, check out our fully stocked line of N95 masks. They are great for use as a woodworking dust mask or as allergy masks for adults.