Common misconceptions about personal respiratory protection

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Respiratory protection is a form of personal protection that prevents various toxic and harmful substances in the air, as well as oxygen-deficient air, from entering the body through the respiratory tract; it is a self-protection measure aimed at actively preventing respiratory hazards. There are various situations in which respiratory protection is used. Aside from military respiratory protection equipment provided to soldiers for use in combat in war zones to counter biochemical weapons, occupational respiratory protection is needed in many industrial production processes or in certain special environments to prevent exposure to various toxic and harmful substances. Furthermore, there is a need for respiratory protection in daily life as well, such as during home renovations, when respiratory infectious diseases are spreading, or in environments with urban air pollution. After the 9/11 attacks in the United States, it was unexpected that the panic caused by terrorists deliberately spreading anthrax would make dust masks and gas masks instantly become the most sought-after essential items for households. Excluding military use and accidents, personal respiratory protection that is closely related to ordinary people is primarily driven by occupational needs. The occupational respiratory hazards in our country are currently very serious. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, among the nearly 50 million workers across the country, 14 million are exposed to various occupational hazards; of these, over 7 million are exposed to dust, and nearly 3 million are exposed to chemical toxins. In other words, nearly 10 million workers are exposed to various occupational respiratory hazards. In 2001, although less than one-third of workers underwent medical examinations, 10,505 cases of pneumoconiosis were reported nationwide (a 15% increase compared to 2000), and 2,242 people died from this incurable disease that year. The total number of pneumoconiosis cases in China has since reached 569,129, which is more than the total number of such patients in every other country in the world, making China the country with the highest incidence of pneumoconiosis globally. In addition, in 2001, 759 people suffered from acute poisoning, with 110 deaths; benzene, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide were the main culprits ； There were 1,166 cases of chronic poisoning, with lead, benzene, and manganese ranking among the top three most harmful substances ； There are also 3,327 cases of occupational pesticide poisoning. These statistics show that acute and chronic occupational diseases related to the respiratory system remain highly prevalent in our country, and there are serious problems with the use of respiratory protection equipment in China. A lack of awareness regarding self-protection, underestimation of the importance of respiratory protection, and certain misconceptions are among the main reasons behind this tragic outcome. Based on my own practical experiences in work, I have listed here one or two of these common misconceptions, in the hope that it will serve as a reminder for everyone to proactively enhance their awareness of self-protection. Myth 1: I can’t feel it… Respiratory protection is an act of self-protection, and the motivation for taking such actions stems from the awareness of potential dangers. In the absence of instrumental measurements that provide objective evidence, our subjective perception of the surrounding air environment comes from vision, smell, and taste. If there is no sensation, it is often assumed to be safe. Sensory organs have limitations in perceiving the outside world; placing too much trust in sensory inputs can put one at risk without awareness. Oxygen is crucial for our survival, as it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. When the concentration of this life-sustaining gas drops below 18%, life is threatened, and subjective sensations cannot provide any warning against oxygen deficiency and suffocation ； Similarly, being colorless, odorless, and tasteless, many harmful gases provide no warning signs; common examples include carbon monoxide, methane, and mercury vapor ； Most people are aware that hydrogen sulfide is a deadly toxic gas, and they know it has the smell of rotten eggs, which serves as a warning sign; therefore, they think it is reliable to detect its presence through smell. What they don’t realize is that smell fatigue can prevent us from sensing gradually increasing concentrations of hydrogen sulfide ； Due to individual differences, some people are naturally unable to detect certain odors, such as the bitter almond smell of hydrogen cyanide ； Some harmful gases do have an odor, but by the time a person detects that smell, damage has already been done; for example, the odor threshold for methanol is around 180 mg/m3, while the permissible limit for methanol according to health standards is 50 mg/m3 ； For example, the odor threshold for carbon tetrachloride is 260 mg/m3, whereas the health standard is 25 mg/m3 ； Dust are tiny particles suspended in the air; they have no odor. Dust particles larger than 10 microns can often be removed by the body’s natural cleansing mechanisms in the respiratory system. However, it is the invisible respirable dust particles that pose a real threat to health. Inhaling such particles does not cause any sensation, yet they are the cause of pneumoconiosis. Myth 2: The universal mask. “The gauze masks we use now are cheap and effective; they absorb sweat in summer and keep you warm in winter. They can be washed when they get dirty, and if they tear, they can be taken home and washed in the sink.” ” Since such “good” masks do not possess the necessary dust-proof functionality, **gauze masks have been banned from being used as dust-proof masks.** Myth 3: How can masks that can’t be washed still be effective? The filter material of dust masks cannot be washed with water. Although gauze masks can be washed, they do not protect against respirable dust; it makes no difference whether they are washed or not. The high-efficiency filtering materials used in dust masks are usually non-woven materials; some of them rely on the static electric charge present on the fibers to filter respirable dust, thereby achieving high efficiency, low resistance, and comfortable wear. After washing, the microstructure of the filter media is damaged, resulting in cracks and pores that are invisible to the naked eye; at the same time, a significant amount of static electricity is lost, leading to a severe decline in its filtering performance after \"regeneration\". Some distributors of protective equipment, under pressure from users to reduce usage costs, approve or claim that the filter materials can be washed without sufficient scientific evidence. But how can it be ensured that the masks still maintain adequate filtering efficiency after washing? The more the filtering material is washed, the lower its resistance becomes; what can be felt is greater comfort in breathing, while what is not noticeable is a loss of effectiveness in respiratory protection. Myth 4: My body already has immunity. People develop immunity automatically after catching a cold, and some think their bodies will also be immune to toxic substances – this is absurd. People usually do not develop symptoms soon after being exposed to harmful substances; the incubation period can be very long, lasting years, decades, or even centuries. In cases like pneumoconiosis, symptoms often appear several years to decades after exposure to dust, and some people never discover the cause of their illness until they die. Myth 5: I’ll stop working after a few years. Contract workers often change jobs frequently, staying in one place for only one or two years before leaving. They are fine when they arrive, and no problems seem to be present when they leave. However, if they are exposed to toxic or harmful substances at work, symptoms of chronic poisoning or illness may gradually appear over time, and the original employer will not be willing to cover the medical expenses. Myth 6: I think it’s sufficient to buy masks for use in hospitals during surgeries. The surgical process requires a sterile environment, and the function of surgical masks is to prevent droplets generated by the doctor’s breathing or talking from contaminating the surgical site; their role is to protect the patient. Such masks generally have a flat structure, and their filtering materials have not undergone specialized testing for filtering efficiency; therefore they cannot be used for respiratory protection. Furthermore, respiratory protection must be tailored to the person it is meant to protect; filter masks do not produce oxygen and cannot prevent hypoxia ； Dust masks do not provide protection against harmful gases, while gas masks cannot protect against dust. In situations where both dust and harmful gases are present, it is essential to choose a mask equipped with filters that can protect against both dust and gases. Myth 7: Who can’t wear a mask! Most people have experience wearing gauze masks, so few think that there are specific methods to wearing masks that require training. Since gauze masks have a flat structure, they cannot fit tightly to the curved surface of the face; whether they are worn properly or not makes no difference. Effective masks all have a three-dimensional structure, designed to fit tightly against the face and isolate the breathing area from outside air. Wearing a mask with a full beard makes it impossible to achieve such a tight fit, and if a mask allows air to leak through in various places, it will not provide any protection for breathing. Myth 8: People who wear masks are sick. There are also situations in daily life where respiratory protection is necessary; for example, in the early spring months in northern regions, there is often sand and dust, and some people are allergic to pollen in spring. Many people wear masks when going outside, and others consider them to be delicate or sick. Myth 9: I’m using the best ones, imported products, so they’re safe. A false sense of security is often more dangerous. There is no universal mask in the world; any respiratory protection device has its areas of application and limitations, and cannot provide 100% protection. The scope of application for respiratory protection equipment refers to the substances that need to be protected (such as dust, various harmful gases, oxygen deficiency, etc.), as well as the concentrations of these harmful substances. This is influenced by factors such as the type of protection mechanism (filtration or supply of air), the capacity of the filtering material, and the type of mask. Additionally, the environment in which the equipment will be used (its compatibility with the way of working and other protective equipment or tools used simultaneously) as well as the characteristics of the user (such as whether they wear glasses, have a full beard, or what their face shape is) must also be taken into consideration. Using it beyond the scope for which protective equipment is designed poses a risk. The selection of respiratory protection equipment should be carried out in accordance with professional guidance. The **standard GB/T18664-2002 \"Selection, Use and Maintenance of Respiratory Protection Equipment\", which will come into effect on October 1, 2002, is the standard that provides such professional technical guidance. As the quality of life continues to improve, everyone wants to be healthy and to enjoy a good life for as long as possible. However, the development of modern society inevitably brings about various health-threatening factors around us, such as noise, air pollution, light pollution, microwave radiation, and so on. How to protect ourselves has gradually become a topic that receives widespread attention. A great man once said a thought-provoking statement: Choice is the greatest power people possess (The biggest power men have is to choose). Faced with air pollution, no one can choose to stop breathing; few can choose the air they breathe, but everyone can choose respiratory protection, choose the right respiratory protection, and choose health. For specific PPE issues or product recommendations, please contact the technical staff at Shanghai Hangli Company. Contact person: Zhao Jiabin Phone number: 64280398*213