Why Can Particulate Masks Filter Viruses
Particle masks are designed to reduce the wearer's exposure to suspended particulate matter in the air. The pathogenic microorganisms (such as pathogenic bacteria or viruses) in the air are also particulate matter, which can be filtered by particulate filter materials, which can achieve the same filtration efficiency of non-microbial particulate materials (such as dust, smoke, and fog) with equivalent physical properties (such as particle size and shape). However, unlike most particulate pollutants found in most industrial environment, there is no exposure limit for pathogenic microorganisms (that is, an acceptable level of safety). Therefore, although wearing a
protective mask can help reduce the exposure to pathogenic microorganisms in the air, it is by no means for wears to cut off contact. As the possibility of exposure is not excluded, wears who neglect to keep their hands clean, protect eyes and exercise other prevention measures, will possibly get infected and ill in other routes of infection.