Face Mask Buying Guide for Schools & Administrators- Covid CSR

Introduction

How many people wear a mask but still get sick?  Which masks protect the wearer?  What masks are safe to wear?

Answering these questions is an ethical responsibility and helps us to truly defend ourselves against microbial threats.

False claims by mask suppliers pose serious health risks as do mandates for a false sense of security. The use and misuse of antimicrobials, antibiotics and antibacterial solutions have had serious effects on the health and well-being of all life on our planet driven further by unencumbered funding.  Measuring the results and efficacy of protecting people and the environment is an ethical and fiscal responsibility.

This PPE responsibility framework is centered around helping to ensure health and safety of individuals and their rights balanced by the community interests and school operations.

This proposal identifies:

• PPE subject matter expert guidance & information
• Best mask design practices
• Recruitment of Experienced International Experts*
• Facial Personal Protection products

*PRE-COVID, State economic development plans call for recruitment of international expertise

The Problem:  Unmet Responsibilities

• Though applied in best efforts, the current mask approach is contradictory to personal protection against Covid and lacks innovation and verifiable support in consideration of the risks of engagement between students, employees and the unmet needs for authentic PPE.

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation is that “the general public NOT wear N95 facial respirators to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including the coronavirus (COVID-19). The CDC’s rationale is these masks are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for health care workers and other medical first responders.” (Howard Weinberg, Breathable Technologies)

• Commonly used masks and cloths do not protect the wearer and therefore are not Personal Protection Equipment; they have some fatal flaw, drastically limit oxygen intake, impact job function or are uncomfortable to wear.

• The Cares Act grants immunity to face mask manufacturers for years exposing consumers to products that potentially bear incalculable risk while providing unencumbered funding which contributes to driving fiscal irresponsibility.

• “A single sneeze can contain as many as 30,000 viral droplets – each having as a many as 200,000 aerosol particles – it takes fewer than one thousands of those hundreds of millions of viral particulates to infect the typical person.”

• “A single asymptomatic virus-positive person taking no (social distancing or mask wearing) precautions can infect 406 people within 30 days. Active COVID-19 aerosolized particles can linger in a room long after an infected person leaves it.“ (Richard Nicholas, Research Consortium)

• COVID-19 presents many unique ethical, social and legal challenges for organizations & employers. Employers are required to “provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards and comply with standards, rules and regulations issued under the OSH Act.”

The Goal

Masking Matters

• “Current facial respiratory masks are made with ‘melt blown’ non-woven fabric which is produced by extruding plastic (commonly polypropylene) fibers onto a rotating barrel at high velocity in layers that bond as they cool to form a cloth. This fabric is layered with a needled pre-filtration layer of non-woven fabric which is hot calendared and molded into a mask’s shape. It is then given an electrostatic charge to produce a ‘filtration’ effect whereby contaminants become deeply stuck between the fibers. The longer one wears the mask, however, its electrostatic force weakens and the fine contaminants between the fibers become separated and can penetrate the internal respiratory system…”

• “A face covering such as cloth, bandanna, or other type of material that covers a person’s mouth and nose is as equally ineffective as a surgical mask and become a legal liability when inadequate face masks become wet, retain saliva, or sweat, and become a growth environment for bacteria and other pathogens that exist in the workplace…”

• “Advocating, suggesting, or acquiring the wrong mask protection can become a serious health and financial liability to all concerned. To compound the situation State and Municipal governments continue to impose by Executive Order face-covering requirements and purchasing departments, agents, resellers, etc., have begun procuring surgical masks, other similar models, and even homemade masks as N95’s are simply not available…creating serious, unintentional health and safety hazards of which the public must become aware of…” (Weinberg)

• Disposable masks are costly, irritate skin, cause discomfort, negatively impact the environment.

The Solution

Innovative Strategies & Authentic PPE for Students & Public Servants

 PPE is Personal. Personal Protection Equipment of a genuine value should be provided for employees & students. It is our responsibility to protect the wearer at a level that matches or exceeds that of the N95 device and:

PROTECT the wearer with enhanced filtration & fit

PROVIDE anyone the ability to BREATHE effortlessly and easily

EMPOWER individuals with authentic PPE to defend individuals, their rights and responsibilities

PPE Guidance

A face mask must be a tool used to both  🦠1) reduce viral spread     and      💨2) protect the wearer from a viral cloud

• N95 respirators are difficult to breathe through. 
• Medical masks fit too loosely-Studies show that a < 2% gap in a face mask’s seal can reduce its protection effectiveness by half.
• Polyester is a noxious product and enables COVID-19 to survive longer on it. 
• Charcoal filters are unhealthy and don’t filter coronavirus-size particles. 
• Valved masks let unfiltered air in. 
• Metal antimicrobials such as graphene (which is untested for mask applications) wear off quickly and long-term effects of chronic exposure to these particles on humans, and to our ecosystem environment, are not well known.  As of late, this list has been expanded to include non-medical COVID-19 cloth face masks. Silver has for centuries long been known for its ability to neutralize many harmful microbes. Healthcare professionals have used it to treat burn victims, germs on medical devices (e.g., catheters and bone prostheses) and even to effectively combat dangerous “superbugs” that have become resistant to traditional antibiotics. 
• Masks without nose forms don’t enable a snug fit and most ear pieces are un-adjustable and uncomfortable. 
• Most cloth face masks are intended for use by non-medical wearers.  These barriers are typically not very effective at filtering inbound microbe-size particles or viral aerosols that are suspended in the air and they do little to protect the mask wearer.  

First published in American Chemical Society’s ACS Nano, April, 2020 (Nicholas, p. 20)

Characteristics of an Ideal Face Mask for the U.S.

Breathable

Reusable

U.S. Manufactured-DOMESTIC SOLUTION

Made with Cotton Chiffon Grown in the U.S.

• As a result of premium properties, Supima® cotton is hypoallergenic and won’t ever irritate even the most sensitive skin types. Like all cotton, Supima® is eco-friendly, sustainable, renewable and biodegradable. Unlike other cottons however, the fields that produce Supima® cotton are laser-leveled to maximize water use efficiency and the farming practices employed set environmental and ethical standards for cotton around the world. Unmatched and unsurpassed in quality and purity, Supima® cotton is more sought after and three times more expensive than regular cotton.  (Richard Nicholas, Research Consortium))

Every effort is being made to source and manufacture the ideal face mask in the U.S.

A minimum order of 100,000 masks is required  a monthly mask subscription may be available for those who qualify.

THIS MASK IS NOT YET

ON THE MARKET

International Expertise

Europe

European standard EN 149: 2001 has three classes of disposable particulate respirators (FFP1, FFP2 and FFP3).

• FFP1refers to the least filtering of the three masks with an aerosol filtration of at least 80% and leakage to the inside of maximum 22%. This mask is mainly used as a dust mask (home renovations and various types of work).

• FFP2masks have a minimum of 94% filtration percentage and maximum 8% leakage to the inside. They are mainly used in construction, agriculture, and by healthcare professionals against influenza viruses. They are currently used for protection against the coronavirus.

• FFP3masks are the most filtering mask of the FFPs. With a minimum filtration percentage of 99% and maximum 2% leakage to the inside, they protect against very fine particles such as asbestos.

South Korea – Japan

The Quintet 5-Layer Mask by Breath Silver N2Cell

Exclusive distributor to the Americas, Breathable Air Technologies, LLC  brings to bear the Quintet 5-Layer Mask with innovative ultrafine nanofibers (highly similar to cell substrates) that are most close to human skin, blocking external ultrafine particles, providing water and wind resistance as well as promptly transmitting heat and sweat from the inside to the outside.

The Breaxell nanofiber diameter is less than ten or hundreds of nano meters (1 meter = 1 nanometer x 1 billion)

and nanofiber is an electrospun polymer solution that has a super large area-to-volume ratio.  Mixed with an antimicrobial, the Breaxell nanofiber is a breathable, reusable mask for up to 30 days of wear.