PART 1 OF 2
BLUF (BOTTOM-LINE UP FRONT): MASKS DON'T WORK, AND THEY KNOW THEY DON'T WORK. THEY ALSO KNOW MOST BLINDLY ACCEPT WHATEVER THEY SAY.
RESPIRATORS DO NOT PROTECT AGAINST VIRUSES
3M Technical Data Bulletin - Respiratory Protection for Airborne Exposures to Biohazards (5 June 2020) states the following:
Page 2:
Because no respirator will prevent the inhalation of all particles, including viruses and bacteria, respirators cannot eliminate the risk of exposure, infection, and illness.With so many respirator use recommendations being made on websites and other sources, it is important to understand respirators and the role they have in helping to reduce exposures to bioaerosols.
Page 3:
A surgical mask may also be tested
for its ability to reduce exposure of the wearer against fluid splashes or high velocity streams. Most surgical masks are not designed to seal tightly to the face, and research has shown that they do not achieve the level of contaminant reduction provided by a NIOSH-certified respirator.16-17
Additionally the Best Respirator, Short of a Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), is the P100, studies from the NIH has concluded even these won't protect against small viruses and bacteria.
Now every DOD member, who was paying attention, during their CBRN/Gas Mask Training can tell you that the M50 Gas Mask and it's predecessors, for us old guys, never protect against individual viruses. So I've also provided the pamphlet for the M50 which specifically leaves out viruses.
Sauces:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7409952/(Bullshit, especially when they retracted the articles previously in Notables)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7680614/(Oops looks like they missed this one for retraction. Recommend Archival.)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7196694/(Oops…same as above)
https://pksafety.com/blog/respiratory-basics-n95-vs-p100/(See: Can N95 Masks Protect Me from a Virus?)
Moar Screencaps to follow.
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