What is an N95 Mask?

The N95 mask is the plain white mask one often sees people wearing in large, urban areas. With the increasing dangers of pandemic diseases such as avian or swine flu, these masks are becoming more popular.

Form

• An N95 mask appears as a plain, white, cloth circle with elastic straps to fit around the ears and a strip of metal to conform to the contours of the nose. While the exterior is made of rough cotton and porous paper, the middle layer of the mask is made from latex.

Function

• An N95 mask is cleared by the CDC as an effective method for reducing the chances of contracting airborne diseases. Flues that are becoming more prevalent throughout the world are primarily spread by microscopic amounts of water given off when infected individuals breathe and sneeze. The N95 mask reduces the chances of a uninfected individual breathing in these airborne water molecules by creating a barrier through which bacteria, as small as one micron in diameter, cannot pass.

Misconceptions

• Many people believe that any mask which looks similar to that of an N95 mask will perform the same function. This is incorrect. Dust masks, such as the kind that can be found at hardware stores to reduce the amount of dust inhaled by construction workers, look identical to N95 masks. Some go even so far as to be incorrectly labeled as N95 masks. However, they do not have the thin latex membrane which prevents airborne bacteria from passing through.

Dangers

• The danger of this misconception regarding N95 masks is that people will wear the incorrect mask while walking around in public with a false sense of security. As a result, they may end up engaging in behavior that's riskier to their health than normal, not realizing they're receiving no actual protection from airborne bacteria.

Controversy

• There is a great deal of controversy surrounding N95 masks. Many people say that they are useless in preventing the contraction of airborne diseases. In some ways, they have a point. For example, airborne bacteria are capable of penetrating the human body at any of the mucous membranes, not just the mouth and nose. This includes the eyes and the ears, meaning that, while the N95 mask may protect some mucous membranes, it does not cover them all. Also, N95 masks are not airtight when fitted around the mouth and nose, meaning that airborne bacteria can pass through the seals around the face rather than get caught in the material of the mask.