The market for anti-pollution masks is in full swing and the number of users is rising steadily. Depending on the type of mask and its filters, the effectiveness of the anti-pollution masks vary greatly. This protection also has several disadvantages, such as the heating of the breathed air and a condensation of the sweat inside the mask.
An anti-pollution mask is designed to protect the wearer from pollutants in the ambient air. It can be disposable (single-use) or reusable (multi-use). Since there is a large number of different masks, it is very difficult to choose.
To protect yourself from particles, the best is to choose a mask that complies with European standards of quality and reliability - class Filtering Facepiece Particles level 2 or 3 (FFP2 or FFP3). They are disposable and protect the wearer from dust, influenza viruses (bird flu, SARS), and fine particles - provided that all the requirements of optimal use are respected: correctly apply the mask on the sides of the nostril, do not touch it to prevent it from being electrically discharged, throw it away after 8 hours of use ... Such conditions are rarely satisfied.
A recent study conducted by the Peltier Aerosol Lab, showed that in a day of pollution in Delhi, cheap masks are a pathway for 85% of fine particles. According to the same study, their performance in terms of exhaust and diesel emissions is very limited.
The anti-pollution mask efficiency can be limited by many factors:
Anti-pollution masks users indicate many use problems:
There are anti-pollution masks that are effective against particles but they are uncomfortable and they will be useless if they are poorly positioned on the face