During the last week of December 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a 20% rise in COVID cases in the United States which indicates that the pandemic is not fully over yet. As the effects of presently existing viral infections are still haunting the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about the possibility of the occurrence of a ‘Disease X‘ which can result in a mortality rate 20 times more than the one observed by COVID-19. Thus, in recent years, people have started focusing on the importance of covering their oral and nasal cavities for the prevention of possible infections. The general public has become aware of the fact that either their infection can harm others who are healthy or they themselves can get an infection due to unprotected exposure to a diseased individual. Therefore, it is essential to keep using masks and respirators.
But what exactly is a respirator? Are 3M respirators as effective as they claim to be? How safe is the 3M N95 respirator? In this article, some of the commonly asked questions regarding the 3M particulate respirators have been answered. Let us take a look.
What is the difference between a 3M respirator and a surgical mask?
Apparently, both surgical masks and respirators are used to cover the nose and the oral cavity. But the surgical masks are employed for the reduction of transmission of microbes from the wearer to the healthcare professionals.
However, a respirator works the opposite way i.e. it blocks the entry of particulate matter from the environment into the wearer’s body. This way, a person can be protected from the airborne contaminants.
Apart from this, surgical masks usually do not have good fitting while the respirators cover the mouth and the nose effectively. Despite these differences, both the surgical masks and the respirators have FDA approval.
How does a 3M respirator work?
A 3M respirator, when worn, fits perfectly and provides full coverage to the nasal as well as the oral cavity. The filter present in the respirator starts filtering the air before inhalation and restricts the viruses, bacteria, or any type of particulate matter in it. This way, the air becomes clean and safe for the wearer.
What is a 3M particulate filter?
The 3M particulate filter 2091, P100 is a piece that is fitted into the respirator. This piece facilitates the filtering of the inhaled air by trapping materials such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, asbestos, as well as other primary and secondary air pollutants. The performance of this filter can be estimated by the fact that it can concentrate particles up to 10 times the permissible exposure limit (PEL).
What are 3M respirators used for?
3M respirators are ideal for those who need to handle smaller to larger molecules in addition to different kinds of acids, solvents, as well as volatile organic compounds (VOC). These are particularly suitable for those working in a chemical industry or a laboratory.
What is 3M 8210 used for?
The 3M 8210 respirator is often employed by those involved in jobs such as sweeping, bagging, sawing, and grinding. Moreover, anyone who has to tackle a job that involves a lot of dust should wear a 3M 8210 respirator.
What is the best respirator for particulate matter?
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the N95 is considered the best respirator as it has the capacity to filter up to 95% of airborne particles. Taking a step ahead, N99 also has the potential to restrict 99% of the particulate matter. The 3M has a wide range of N95 respirators which can be purchased by clicking the links given below.
Are the 3M 1860, 1860S, and 1870 respirators appropriate for reducing exposure to M. tuberculosis?
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent that has been associated with Tuberculosis or T.B. As per the criteria set by the CDC published in the Guidelines for Preventing the Transmission of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Health Care Facilities, 1994, N95 should be worn by the personnel who are at risk of getting exposed to the bacterium. However, the 1860, 1860S, and 1870 respirators also meet this criteria which makes them suitable to be used in place of N95.
Can the 3M 1860 and 1870 N95 respirators be used in surgery?
Yes, Both the 3M 1860 as well as 1870 N95 respirators have FDA approval for use during the surgical processes. When tested using the Modified Greene and Vesley test method, these respirators have been proven to restrict the entry of more than 99% of the bacteria into the system.
Can the 3M respirators protect against very small particles like PM 2.5, smoke, soot, viruses, and bacteria?
Yes. The 3M respirators are effective against particles as small as PM 2.5. These are also effective in hindering the respiratory intake of dust, smoke, and soot, as well as other air pollutants and disease-causing agents.
What size is a 3M respirator?
A 3M respirator can filter the particles as small as 0.3 microns. This number has been achieved after putting the respirators to vigorous testing which indicated that approximately 95% of the particles of size 0.3 microns or more can be efficiently restricted by a 3M respirator. This efficiency in performance has won the respirators the NIOSH certificate as well.
The 3M particulate respirators mentioned in this article, along with many other medical supplies, can be purchased from Health Supply 770, a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the link at the end of the article to check the wide range of 3M particulate respirators on the website.
Conclusion
In recent years, a sharp increase has been observed in the sales of face masks as well as respirators owing to the possibility of getting infected with different microbes. Among several companies that manufacture respirators, the 3M provides a wide range of masks and respirators that efficiently block the entry of microbes and other pollutants.
As the article has addressed some of the queries regarding the 3M respirators, links have been provided which can lead you to the Health Supply 770 website as purchasing medical devices from reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 ensures the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.
Click to Order 3M Particulate respirators from Health Supply 770
Health Supply 770 provides a variety of 3M Particulate Respirators for your safety. Explore our offerings, from surgical masks to N95 respirators, to defend against airborne threats:
References :
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.
Uzma Zafar is a dedicated and highly motivated pharmaceutical professional currently pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutics at the Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab. With a comprehensive academic and research background, Uzma has consistently excelled in her studies, securing first division throughout her educational journey.
Uzma’s passion for the pharmaceutical field is evident from her active engagement during her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program, where she not only mastered industrial techniques and clinical case studies but also delved into marketing strategies and management skills.
