Coronavirus
Technology Solutions
Mask Supplier
Guidance Program
Focuses on $60
billion
Opportunity
ASTM Standards
will be a Good
Start Toward
Better Masks
ASTM Standards
will Provide the
Baseline
Additional
Measures to
Prevent COVID
Spread in
Hospitals
ATI Chronicles
Filter Tester
Success At
8th
Filtration Asia
Held Earlier
this Month in
Shanghai
U.S COVID
Cases Surpass 17
Million
______________________________________________________________________
Mask Supplier
Guidance Program
Focuses on $60
billion
Opportunity
If six billion
people began
wearing tight
fitting and
efficient masks
as many as one
million lives
could be saved
in the next
eight months.
If after
the pandemic
subsides people
wear these same
types of masks
to protect
against air
pollution,
wildfires, and
other air
contaminants a
very large
numbers of
deaths and
illness can be
prevented.
The
average person
has two colds
per year. If
they just wore a
courtesy mask
while infectious
more than 20
billion sick
days could be
avoided.
To accomplish
this goal there
needs to be an
adequate supply
of affordable
masks.
Therefore
reusable masks
have to be the
main type of
masks utilized.
The initiative
will only be
successful to
the extent that
people are
willing to wear
the masks for
long periods.
Comfort and
attractiveness
are also
important to
insure wear.
Comfortable,
Attractive,
Tight Fitting,
Efficient and
Reusable
are the benefits
of CATER masks.
Suppliers of
masks, media,
and other
components need
to work toward a
common goal of
meeting as much
of the market
needs as
possible. It
will be
difficult but
not impossible
to provide three
billion masks at
$30/mask in
2021. On the
other hand
providing two
billion masks in
2023 will not be
a problem when
you consider
that reusable
masks require
only 3% of the
media required
for disposable
masks and that
membranes and
nanofibers as
well as
meltblowns can
be utilized.
McIlvaine is
helping
suppliers meet
this common goal
with a three
step approach.
1.
Provide CATER
Mask Decisions
with
comprehensive
news coverage
and analysis
2.
Help suppliers
communicate the
advantages of
their products
and services
3.
Assist with
strategic and
market analysis
and forecasts
Sheila Kaplan
writing in the
NY Times
observes “More
than 100,000
varieties of
face masks are
currently for
sale. They come
in silk, cotton.
and synthetics;
with filters and
without;
over-the-head
and
over-the-ears.
They have
sparkles and
sunflowers;
friendly
greetings and
insults; cartoon
characters and
teeny reindeer.
“What they don’t
have is a label
that shows how
well they block
infectious
particles, an
omission that
has frustrated
public health
officials during
the coronavirus
pandemic. Those
experts note
that there is a
big range in the
effectiveness of
various designs,
and some barely
filter out
particles at
all.”
She follows with
another quote
“By having a
standard in
place you will
be able to know
what level of
protection is
being achieved
and you’ll have
a consistent way
of evaluating
these products,”
said Maryann
D’Alessandro,
director of the
NIOSH National
Personal
Protective
Technology
Laboratory.
Sheila
interviewed
Linsey Marr who
we have quoted
many times.
“A working group
of federal and
industry
officials has
proposed one
high and one low
filtration
requirement that
manufacturers
and distributors
can adopt and
list on their
labels. The
lower standard
is a 20 percent
filtration
barrier and the
higher is 50
percent.
Those numbers
are more
protective than
they sound. The
filtration
efficiency
percentages are
based on a
product’s
efficiency at
filtering
particles
measuring 0.3
microns, which,
as the generally
most penetrative
particles, are
standard for
NIOSH tests.
“Twenty percent
efficiency at
0.3 microns
would translate
to 50 percent
efficiency at
one- to
two-micron
particles, and
80 percent
efficiency at
blocking
particles that
are four to five
microns or
larger,” Dr.
Marr said. “I
think it will be
useful.”
McIlvaine would
add to this
discussion by
pointing out
that the most
recent evidence
shows most
particles are
emitted during
breathing and
are sub-micron
droplets which
result from a
splash mechanism
in the lungs.
Furthermore as
pointed out by
UCSD and
McIlvaine a
droplet
initially
captured by the
mask will
evaporate or
split. The
result is
smaller droplets
or salts which
are sub-micron
in diameter
Shiela writes
“Manufacturers
who want to note
that they meet
the ASTM
standard must
first have their
products tested
by an accredited
laboratory. They
should also be
able to show
that their masks
provide a
reasonable fit
to the
population at
large”
McIlvaine
believe this
requirement for
testing by an
accredited
laboratory is a
great step
forward.
It opens
the door for
companies with
95% efficient
masks to
contrast their
performance to
the labeled
products.
However
leakage around a
mask can be 50%.
The requirement
to self-test and
provide evidence
of a reasonable
fit is
equivalent to a
statement that
the mask does
remove some
particles.
McIlvaine
recommends that
readers access
the CATER
intelligence
system and see
how companies
such as Vogmask
are approaching
the fit testing.
First they are
making it a top
priority.
Vogmask has five
mask sizes to
fit the various
shape sizes.
Many suppliers
have two or
less.
Furthermore fit
testing has been
done by highly
reputable
institutions
where
measurements are
taken of
multiple
subjects in
various
different modes
(walking,
bending, talking
etc.). Vogmask
is quick to
point out that
this testing was
not to receive
accreditation
but only to
establish
relevant
information
It is the goal
in CATER Mask
Decisions
to provide
clarity relative
to the
performance of
various masks.
Mask
rating is
already being
done by many
publishers.
If they
have more
credible
resources such
as CATER Mask
Decisions
they can
better advise
their viewers.
The same is true
for nonprofit
associations and
governments.
The NY Times
article is
creating quite a
bit of interest
and can be
viewed at
How Effective Is
the Mask You’re
Wearing? You May
Know Soon - The
New York Times (nytimes.com)
The ASTM
standards with
20% and 50%
ratings will be
a great starting
point for
buyers. It will
show how
efficiency is
calculated and
make people
aware that the
fit is equally
important.
However
just because a
car meets
minimum safety
standards
doesn’t mean the
buyer is not
interested in
maximum safety.
In CATER Mask
Decisions
readers will be
able to view the
evidence and
various
different ways
of rating masks.
This effort is
supplemental to
the various
standards and
rating systems
employed by
governments and
associations.
The leakage
assessment in
the draft of the
ASTM standards
is brief.
5.4 Leakage
Assessment
5.4.1 The
leakage
assessment shall
be reported by
the manufacturer
through a
product design
analysis
self-declaration.
5.4.2 The
required
self-declaration
shall report
that the product
minimizes
leakage around
the edges or
other areas of
the product
based upon an
analysis of the
product design.
This statement
can be included
on any
self-declaration
required as part
of Guide F3050,
under Section 12
of this
specification.
5.4.2.1 The
manufacturer is
permitted to
conduct
quantitative
testing to
supplement its
product design
analysis
self-declaration.
When used, the
leakage ratio
shall be
evaluated using
Test Method
F3407, with the
modifications
specified in
8.3.
5.4.3 Where
barrier face
coverings are
reusable and
intended for
laundering or
cleaning, the
product design
analysis shall
be applied to
barrier face
coverings both
in a new
condition and
after the
maximum of
laundering or
cleaning cycles
as specified by
the manufacturer
according to the
manufacturer
care
instructions.
This language
alerts decision
makers to the
importance of
fit but as shown
in the previous
paragraphs there
is a great deal
of testing which
needs to be done
to quantify the
leak risk.
The standard
also sets up two
performance
categories at
20% and 50%.
The following
examples were
calculated based
on available
information for
various types of
masks. The net
efficiency
equals the media
efficiency less
leaks.
The 20% leakage
is possibly
representative
if there are
limited mask
sizes available
and great care
is not taken in
the mask design.
Without
comprehensive
fit tests it is
logical to
assign a number
such as this.
Net efficiency
is only
important if the
mask is worn
continuously.
The use of masks
is greatly
impacted by the
breathing
resistance. By
subtracting the
breathing
resistance from
the net
efficiency, a
basic
performance
rating is
created.
There is also
the impact of
both transmitter
and recipient
wearing masks.
If a
person wearing a
CATER 95 mask
transmits all
virus to the
recipient also
in the CATER 95
only 9% of the
load reaches the
recipient who in
turn removes 91%
or another 8%
making the
combined
efficiency 99%.
The
transmitter in
an ASTM 20 mask
will allow 86%
to reach the
recipient. The
recipient
will
only take out
another 13% for
a combined total
of 29%. So in
one case only 1%
of the virus is
being inhaled
and in the other
it is 71%. So
one way to look
at it is that
the risk is 71
times as great
if everyone
wears an ASTM 20
vs CATER 95.
A variety of
measures are
necessary to
prevent the
spread of the
coronavirus
SARS-CoV-2 in
hospitals and
nursing homes.
It is
particularly
important to
develop an
appropriate
strategy to
protect health
care workers
from airborne
transmission.
Researchers from
the Leibniz
Institute for
Tropospheric
Research
(TROPOS) in
Leipzig, the
CSIR National
Physical
Laboratory in
New Delhi, the
Institute of
Atmospheric
Science and
Climate (ISAC)
in Rome, and 2B
Technologies,
Colorado,
recommend that
more attention
is required in
respect to
indoor air in
such facilities
and to further
training of the
staff.
From an aerosol
experts' point
of view, it is
necessary to
combine these
different
measures, the
research team
writes in an
Editorial
article in the International
Journal of
Environmental
Research and
Public Health.
These include
regular
ventilation,
controlling
fresh air
consumption via
CO2 monitor
and using
humidifiers to
keep the
relative
humidity indoors
at 40 to 60
percent. If it
is not possible
to ventilate
sufficiently,
the use of
portable air
purifiers is
also advisable.
The risk of
infection is
particularly
high in
hospitals and
nursing homes
because infected
and healthy
people stay in
the same room
for long periods
of time and the
virus can be
transmitted via
invisible
aerosol
particles in the
air, even over
distances of
several meters.
According to
media reports,
COVID-19
infections are
already reported
in almost one
tenth of the
12,000
retirement homes
and nursing
homes in
Germany. Homes
are now also
considered as
hotspot for the
spread of the
virus among new
infections in
Saxony.
Since the
outbreak of the
pandemic in
early 2020,
there have been
increasing
reports of
transmissions
via aerosol
particles in the
indoor air of
hospitals and
nursing homes.
These include
scientific
reports from
hospitals in
China and the
USA, but also
from a nursing
home in the
Netherlands,
where the virus
apparently
spread via the
ventilation
system using
aerosol
particles
because
unfiltered
indoor air
circulated in a
ward. As further
evidence,
SARS-CoV-2 was
detected on the
dust filters of
the air
conditioning
system there.
"The complexity
of the aerosol
transmission of
SARS-CoV-2,
especially
indoors, is far
from being
solved and there
is a need to
establish
appropriate
guidelines to
protect medical
staff. With this
publication, we
are therefore
trying to give recommendations for
measures that
could contribute
to the
containment of
not only
current, but
also future
virus
pandemics,"
reports
professor Alfred
Wiedensohler
from TROPOS.
The aerosol
spread of the
virus is,
according to
many experts, a
major reason why
the number of
coronavirus
infections in
Europe increased
dramatically in
the autumn.
People stay
indoors for
longer durations
and as
temperatures
fall, many
indoor spaces
are much less
ventilated.
Concentrations
of viral
particles in the
air can rise
sharply when
infected people
stay indoors.
Simple
mouth-nose masks
can
significantly
reduce but not
completely
prevent the
release of viral
aerosol
particles
through the
airways. The
risk can
therefore
increase
significantly
with the number
of people and
the length of
time they stay
in the room.
Hospitals and
nursing homes
are particularly
affected by
this, because
additional risk
factors are
added there:
particularly
sensitive
people, very
long stays in a
room, and
sometimes
medical
procedures such
as intubation in
intensive care
units, where a
lot of aerosol
is produced.
The spread of
viruses via the
room air can be
reduced with a
number of
measures.
However, there
is no single
measure that can
achieve this
completely, but
it is important
to control
indoor air and
combine
different
measures:
"As protection
against the
transmission of
SARS-CoV-2 via
the air in
closed rooms,
especially in
cold and dry
weather, we
recommend
humidifiers to
keep the
relative
humidity in the
room in the
range of 40 to
60 percent and
to reduce the
risk of
respiratory
tract infection.
It is in this
middle range
that the human
mucous membranes
are most
resistant to
infections. In
addition, the
viruses in the
aerosol
particles can
survive at a
relative
humidity around
50 percent for
less time than
in drier or high
humid air,"
explains Dr.
Ajit Ahlawat of
TROPOS.
It is very
important that
there should be
a constant
supply of fresh
air through the
air conditioning
system or
ventilation.
This can be
controlled with
measuring
devices for
carbon dioxide
(CO2).
The high CO2 values
in indoor places
indicate that
there is lot of
exhaled air in
the room. If
there is an
infected person
in the room,
then there would
also be many
viral aerosol
particles
floating in the
air and could be
inhaled by a
healthy person.
The heating,
ventilation, and
air conditioning
(HVAC) system
should have a
minimum
efficiency of
MERV-13 to
filter even very
small particles
out of the air.
If it is not
possible to
ventilate the
room
sufficiently, an
attempt can be
made to reduce
the
concentration of
viruses in the
room air by
using air
purifiers.
However, these
air purifiers
should have
so-called HEPA
(high-efficiency
particulate
absorbing)
filters.
However, air
purifiers can
always only be
an additional
measure as they
cannot replace
the supply of
fresh air and
thus oxygen.
Medical staff
need special
protection
during
procedures and
surgical
operations that
involve
potentially
infectious
aerosol
particles—such
as dental
treatment or
intubation in
intensive care
units.
Valve-free
particle filter
masks, so-called
respiratory
masks such as
N95, should be
worn and care
should be taken
to ensure that
they lie close
to the skin.
"Avoid the use
of FFP2 and FFP3
type
respirators,
which have an
exhalation valve
or ventilation,
as these types
of respirators
are not
sufficient. To
reduce the risk,
protective
equipment such
as goggles
should also be
worn," advises
Dr. Francesca
Costabile of the
Institute of
Atmospheric
Science and
Climate in Rome.
In addition, the
researchers
recommend
avoiding
aerosol-generating
procedures and
treatments in
patients with
COVID-19
wherever
possible to
reduce the risk
of infection for
medical staff.
Aerosol-generating
treatments
usually include
medication
administered via
a nebulizer. In
order to avoid
the risk of
aerosolization
of SARS-CoV-2 by
the nebulization
process, inhaled
drugs should be
administered by
a metered dose
inhaler rather
than a nebulizer,
if possible.
Care should also
be taken when
disinfecting
rooms: "We
recommend that
disinfection
with UV-C light
should not be
used too often.
Although it is
known that UV-C
light destroys
the SARS-CoV-2
viruses, it
ultimately
increases indoor
ozone
concentrations
and can thus
have a negative
impact on health
if the indoor
air is not
adequately
replaced,"
stresses Dr.
Sumit Kumar
Mishra of CSIR -
National
Physical
Laboratory.
Spraying
oxidizing
chemicals in the
air, such as
hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2),
can also have
negative
consequences.
Indoors, these
chemicals cause
toxic chemical
reactions that
create other air
pollutants and
damage the
central nervous
system and lungs
of humans.
The
international
research team
emphasizes that
the training of
hospital and
nursing home
staff is
extremely
important to
prevent the
spread of
viruses via
indoor air.
Medical staff
must be
adequately
trained to
follow the
recommendations.
It is important
to draw
attention to the
risks of
airborne
transmission of
SARS-CoV-2. Such
recommendations,
if adequately
provided by
health
authorities and
implemented by
medical staff,
could
significantly
reduce the risk
of airborne
transmission in
hospitals and
nursing homes
until
vaccination is
effective on a
large scale.
The 100X
Automated Filter
Tester is used
to test and
validate filter
media,
cartridges, and
masks used in
medical and
industrial
hygiene
applications.
The 100X is
designed to meet
the precise and
rigorous
requirements
needed by
production,
quality control,
and R&D
environments.
The United
States on
Thursday
surpassed 17
million official
Covid-19 cases across
the pandemic,
while a key
meeting
could lead to
authorization of
a second
coronavirus
vaccine for the
country.
Thursday's
developments
come as the US,
while just
starting to
distribute its
first authorized
vaccine this
week, is dealing
with record rates
of daily cases,
daily
coronavirus
deaths and
numbers of
Covid-19
patients in
hospitals.
Vaccine advisers
to the Food and
Drug
Administration
began meeting
Thursday morning
to discuss Moderna's
vaccine
candidate, and
are expected to
vote Thursday
afternoon on
whether to
recommend it.
If the advisory
panel does
recommend it --
as it did
for Pfizer's
vaccine last
week -- the FDA
is widely
expected to
quickly
grant emergency
use
authorization,
which
would free
Moderna's
vaccine for
shipment.
The
US Centers for
Disease Control
and Prevention
would need to
approve the
vaccine before
shots can be
administered --
and a CDC
advisory panel
is expected to
meet on the
matter Saturday,
raising the
possibility that
the Moderna
vaccine could be
used next week.
Hundreds of
American health
care workers
have received
their first
dose of the
Pfizer vaccine and
many states have
announced
they're also
expecting
nursing home
resident
vaccinations to
begin this week.
Wednesday saw
grim numbers --
the highest
Covid-19
infections and
deaths the
country has
reported in a
single day, and
the highest
number of
Covid-19
patients in US
hospitals on a
given day.
More than
247,000 new
cases were
reported
Wednesday. More
than 113,000
Covid-19
patients were in
hospitals,
according to
the COVID
Tracking
Project. And
more than 3,600
people were
added to the
nation's death
toll.
The country's
total official
case count stood
at more than
17,000,400 on
Thursday,
according to
Johns Hopkins
University only
five days after
the count
surpassed 16
million. But
researchers have
said the actual
number of US
infections --
counting those
that weren't
tested for
-- probably is
many millions
higher.
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