US may soon have consumer face mask standards

US may soon have consumer face mask standards

 

We know masks work, but which ones work best? Consumers may soon be able to have some guidance.   ASTM International, an international technical standards organization, and the National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory, are reviewing draft guidance for both single-use and reusable masks, and outlining specific requirements for evaluating the performance of reusable masks.   If the standards are adopted, each mask would come with a set of user instructions that describe proper sizing, fit and cleaning protocol. The standards strictly prohibit the use of vents, valves or any feature that allows people to blow out or breathe in unfiltered air.   The draft guidelines would also require manufacturers to test their facial coverings in accredited labs to certify performance, register their products and use the ASTM labeling designations.   Dr. Donald Milton, a professor of environmental health at the University of Maryland, says this is much needed. "You've got all these knockoff masks coming in. They're not very good, claiming to be N95 and they're not. So having some benchmarks is a step in the right direction.”