mask efficacy- where we stand

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In a proof-of-concept study appearing online Aug. 7 in the journal Science Advances, Fischer, Westman and colleagues report that the simple, low-cost technique provided visual proof that face masks are effective in reducing droplet emissions during normal wear.

“We confirmed that when people speak, small droplets get expelled, so disease can be spread by talking, without coughing or sneezing,” Fischer said. “We could also see that some face coverings performed much better than others in blocking expelled particles.”

Notably, the researchers report, the best face coverings were N95 masks without valves – the hospital-grade coverings that are used by front-line health care workers and surgical or polypropylene masks.  But hand-made cotton face coverings also provided good coverage, eliminating a substantial amount of the spray from normal speech.  Our masks were designed to provide the best safety level below medical grade masks, and fall within the cotton-made face coverings by addressing several safety categories:
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• Filtration: every mask that we make comes with a "third" layer of filtration that provides (on a filter basis) an average filtration efficiency of 92.5% to 97.6%.  As our masks are not "medical grade" masks, we do not test them, and cannot claim them to these levels of efficacy.  But the filters in them are tested per ASTM F2299, and have been shown to have high levels of particle filtration efficiency. 
• 3 Layers of Protection: including the filter and the two cotton layers, we offer three layers of protection- which is among the highest rated mask types mentioned in studies of mask filtration and safety. ​
• Filters Sold Separately: While we currently sell masks with accessories, we also sell filters as a separate option for you to purchase when you need new accessories.  Instead of simply reusing the same filter vs say, having to purchase a new mask, we also offer filters you can purchase while keeping your current mask.  ​

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