Do keep in mind that surgical masks and other looser-fitting facial coverings are primarily intended as a public health measure to prevent one's own aerosols from entering the local atmosphere, not as a filter for inhaled air..
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> on behalf of Monona Rossol <0000030664c37427-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU> Sent: Friday, May 15, 2020 9:29 AM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Yale to reactivate on-campus research in early June
Hmmmm. I would think water-repellant fabrics would do the opposite of what is needed here. When fibers are coated with a polymer to make them water repellant, they wont absorb water. The droplets,
especially the really small ones, will be more likely to make it through the barrier. The water repellants also stick down the little fibrils on some fiber surfaces that help capture particulates. And if the barrier is too tight and air-resistant, the air
will go around the edges. Monona
-----Original Message-----
From: Reinhardt, Peter <peter.reinhardt**At_Symbol_Here**YALE.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Sent: Fri, May 15, 2020 12:00 pm
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Yale to reactivate on-campus research in early June
We've been able to procure non-ASTM rated surgical masks more easily, and in greater numbers than surgical masks that have the ASTM rating. These are water repellant, so they do provide some droplet protection.
In our experience, surgical masks can rated ASTM level 1 and 2 be obtained, but vendors are rationing them and they are may take time to get in volume. ASTM level 3 surgical masks (with the greatest degree of water proofing)
are very difficult to obtain.
Pete
From:
ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> on behalf of David Roberts <droberts**At_Symbol_Here**DEPAUW.EDU> Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> Date: Friday, May 15, 2020 at 11:53 AM To: "DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU" <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Yale to reactivate on-campus research in early June
Just curious, what are non-ASTM surgical masks (beyond the obvious please, I get the meaning) and how do we obtain these? I feel most marketplaces just have the ASTM certified versions.
I'm not asking for a debate on if ASTM is worth a damn, I just want to know what that one line means. Thanks
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