You Can Reuse Masks! Reliable?

The new crown pneumonia epidemic prevention and control has normalized, and the mask has become the standard of daily life. However, there is also a question of "Mask", such as when to mask and when to wear, and how to store masks, especially whether disposable masks can be replaced by respirable masks.

Recently, a number of scientific research teams and enterprises in China have said that reusable respirators have been developed. What is the protective effect? Is the price close to the people? Is the market acceptable? Xinhua viewpoint reporter conducted an investigation.

One

Recently, a variety of masks have been reused.

According to the insiders, the mask is made up of three layers. The two layers inside and outside are non-woven fabrics. The middle layer is the melted spray cloth called the mask "heart". The three layer of cloth acts as a barrier against dust and viruses through physical barrier and electrostatic adsorption. High temperature, alcohol, radiation and other disinfection methods will destroy the inner structure of melt blown fabric, resulting in the loss of filtration effect, so ordinary respirators can not be reused.

The key to developing reusable respirators is to find antibacterial or bactericidal materials or filter materials that can withstand traditional disinfection.

Yuan Jianhua, head of a company in Guangzhou, said the company uses organo silane treated nonwovens as the inside and outside of the respirator, which can inhibit viruses and bacteria. Masks can be used for 7 days in a continuous and effective way. Another product uses polytetrafluoroethylene filter membrane, which can be sterilized without boiling water, cleaning or spraying with medical alcohol, without damaging the filtering effect. It can be reused for more than 7 days.

A polytetrafluoroethylene nanofiltration mask, which uses polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) materials, has been introduced. Its polytetrafluoroethylene nanofiltration mask has a filtration efficiency of more than 96%. It has a longer service life than traditional melt spraying cloth, and can tolerate the sterilization and sterilization methods such as boiling water and alcohol. "If the respirator is normal, it can be used again after disinfection."

Public information also shows that companies in Shanghai and Beijing have announced the development of reusable masks using nano or graphene materials.

It is understood that a variety of masks can be reused at a price higher than the same type disposable masks. For example, a reusable nano mask is priced at 60 yuan, 1 bags and 10, with an average of 6 yuan.

At present, some products have not obtained medical device related documents, and are sold only in some supermarkets and electronic business platforms. Reporters found in some electronic business platform search, the price of reusable masks varies from four or five yuan to tens of dollars each.

Two

Reporters found that the quality of these reusable respirators was uneven, and the filtration efficiency was high and low.

According to a test report of a reproducible mask used by the Guangdong medical device quality supervision and Inspection Institute, some samples can still reach more than 95% in the index of bacterial filtration efficiency after 3 days of use. A report issued by Guangzhou inspection and testing certification group showed that the filtration efficiency of the reusable respirator produced by a company was 10 after filtration.

There are also some masks that need to be improved in terms of stability and maturity. For example, in the field inspection of Guangdong medical device quality supervision and Inspection Institute, there are filter materials that fall off when they are lightly rubbed, and their air permeability is poor. A test report also showed that after several days, the effect of bacterial filtration dropped to about 82%.

Reporters interviewed found that many consumers have doubts about the protective effect of such reusable respirators. Mr. Wang, a resident of Guangzhou, said: "reusable respirators can achieve the effect of the manufacturer's claim, and whether the personal disinfection operation is in conformity with the specifications, and there is no bottom in mind."

Reporters in the evaluation of several reusable nano masks on a business platform found that many consumers said that the reuse of masks greatly reduced the use of masks. Some consumers suggested that the protective effect of the respirator after rinsing with hot water is not enough. More consumers believe that the price of masks is too high.

Three

Under the background of normalization of epidemic prevention, the demand for mask will remain high in China.

According to the insiders, in the long run, relying on disposable respirators is not sustainable. Therefore, it is imperative to enhance the utilization rate of respirators.

However, Guangzhou industrial and Information Bureau Industrial Development Department responsible person said, new products entering the market need long-term application verification and large capital investment, the price is relatively high, the initial market recognition is not high, objectively leads to the production and application disjointed, innovation product promotion and application difficulties.

With the increase of the supply ability of masks in China, the price of disposable masks has been declining, and the demand for reusable masks has also declined.

Huang Minju, director of the medical materials room of Guangdong medical device quality supervision and Inspection Institute, suggested that we should increase support for R & D masks, encourage relevant research institutions and enterprises to make technological breakthroughs, improve product quality, and reduce product prices to meet consumer needs. In addition, regulatory authorities should introduce relevant standards for reusable masks as soon as possible so that consumers can use them safely.

A number of people interviewed in the industry believe that in order to reduce the environmental pollution caused by waste masks, it is necessary to combine civil masks with the current garbage sorting work so that the waste masks can be properly disposed.