The weather is dry and the particulate matter in the air increases. Many people choose to wear masks when they go out. However, in the face of masks with various functions such as anti haze, anti dust and anti bacteria, how should consumers choose? Recently, the reporter learned from relevant departments that since November 1 this year, in view of the wide variety and uneven quality of the mask market, China's first national standard for civil protective masks - technical specifications for daily protective masks has been officially implemented. Consumers can buy masks according to standards in the future.

In haze weather, many consumers like to use 3M masks with better protection performance. Photo by Liu Chenghe

The quality of "anti haze" masks is uneven

The reporter searched on several e-commerce platforms and found that there are a wide variety of masks, including disposable non-woven masks, gauze masks, and many nominal can resist PM2 5 anti haze mask. The reporter found that as long as the package is marked with anti haze words, the price will be much more expensive than ordinary masks. In an online store with the highest sales volume, the reporter saw 50 disposable masks in a box, the price was 8.8 yuan, and the unit price was only 0.18 yuan. The price of three "disposable dust and haze prevention PM2.5 masks" is 19.9 yuan, and the price of one is 6.6 yuan, more than 30 times that of the former.

In addition to the wide price difference, the masks with different functions are also different in the main technical indicators. The reporter noted that some of the masks sold on the Internet implement the industrial mask standard of respiratory protective equipment self-priming filter anti particulate respirator, some implement the medical product standards of medical protective mask technical requirements and medical surgical mask, and some mask manufacturers implement the production standards of European and American countries, Some even do not mark the production standards used at all.

According to the consumer's reply, it can also be seen that the dust, haze and PM2 of the mask 5. Most consumers can only judge by their use feeling. The buyer is not very clear about how much effect it can play.

The reporter learned that although many masks will be marked with "filtration efficiency" in the eye-catching position of the packaging, it has been reported that the relevant departments have tested the masks known as "removal rate of more than 90%, and the actual removal rate is only 30% to 40%. In addition, according to the disclosure of Shanghai Bureau of quality supervision in March this year, 69 batches of samples from Shanghai production enterprises, physical sales stores and online stores were tested. It was found that the minimum filtration efficiency of 54 batches of masks was less than 90%, and 28 batches of masks contained carcinogenic formaldehyde.

Special standard for civil masks released

In haze weather, most consumers buy masks in the hope that they can prevent dust and haze and reduce the inhalation of PM2 5, but the masks used in people's daily life are produced with reference to industrial or medical standards, which obviously do not meet their own needs. In addition, the mask Market logo is chaotic and there is no unified evaluation standard, which gives consumers a difficult problem.

In this regard, in March last year, Jiangsu Special Defense Center and China Textile Industry Association organized a discussion on the establishment of standards, and then participated in the establishment of China's first national standard for civil protective masks. On November 1 this year, China's first national standard for civil protective masks - Technical Specification for daily protective masks was officially implemented. The standard judges the products from three aspects: safety, hygiene and protection. At the same time, it has strict provisions on the packaging, identification, storage and transportation of masks. The identification is required to include "product protection effect level" and "executive standard number".

It is understood that according to different air quality, the new regulations also divide the protection level of masks from low to high into four levels: Level D, level C, level B and level a. For example, class D masks are suitable for moderate and below air quality pollution, when PM2 5. Concentration ≤ 150 μ g / m3; On the contrary, class a masks are suitable for extremely serious air pollution, PM2 5 when the concentration reaches 500 μ g / m3. At the same time, the protective effects of masks are also different. From level D to level a, the protective effects are not less than 65%, 75%, 85% and 90% respectively. According to the requirements of the national standard, after consumers choose a suitable protective mask according to the standard, the inhaled air quality index must reach above good.

How to buy masks under the new national standard

Compared with the previous national standard for masks, the users of the new national standard are ordinary people except children and infants. Then, with the relevant specifications of daily protective masks, many people want to know how to select masks.

Is it good to choose a high-level mask? In this regard, Zhao Jinyu, senior engineer of the science and Technology Development Department of China Industrial Textile Industry Association, pointed out that in terms of the characteristics of the mask itself, the comfort of the mask of the same brand will be reduced with the improvement of protective performance. "If the respiratory resistance is too large, we can't rule out chest tightness and dizziness," she said. Therefore, we should wear masks with corresponding protective effects according to the weather and our own conditions.

In addition to special anti haze masks, there are cotton masks and disposable medical masks on the market. Experts say that pure cotton and gauze masks are harmful to PM2 5 has little filtering effect. What can really play a filtering role is the filter layer formed by nonwovens or other corresponding filter materials in the mask.

When it comes to the breathing valves installed on some masks, experts say that the breathing valves play a certain role in alleviating respiratory resistance. Of course, whether there is a breathing valve on the mask or not, it is OK as long as it meets the specifications.

In addition, when consumers choose masks, they'd better try them on and try to choose a mask suitable for their face. If they don't fit or have chest tightness, poor breathing, dizziness and so on, don't buy them. When wearing, the mask should fit closely with the face, so that the external air will not leak in, but it can not be too tight. It is necessary to ensure that the person wearing the mask can breathe normally.