Community Respirators and Masks

Overview

Wearing a respirator or mask is one way to reduce exposures to respiratory hazards. Respirators fit closely to your face and protect you by filtering particles out of the air you breathe. They also filter out droplets and particles that you exhale when breathing, coughing, or sneezing to prevent the spread of germs to others. Masks also filter out your exhaled breath to protect others. If a mask fits closely to your face, it also provides some protection from germs spread by others.

Health effects

Based on the type of respiratory hazard and the length of exposure, health effects can range from mild irritation and discomfort to severe illness or disease, including:

Infectious disease

Exposure to germs in the air can cause respiratory infectious diseases, like influenza and COVID-19. Respiratory secretions can form small particles and droplets that can be spread from person to person. If the particles and droplets carry germs that stay infectious in the air, they can lead to infection. During periods of increased infections or when you are sick, it is not always possible to stay home or stay away from others to keep you from becoming sick. You can wear a respirator or mask to reduce your exposure to germs as well as prevent you from spreading your germs to others.

Mold

Mold grows in places with a lot of moisture. People are commonly exposed to mold when cleaning water-damaged buildings after weather events like floods and hurricanes. They are exposed to particles from the mold as well as vapors and gases from cleaning products when remediating flood damage in their house. Refer to the CDC guidance on Respiratory Protection for Residents and/or Cleaning Homes that Were Flooded.

Nuisance dust

Nuisance dust consists of any solid particle in the air. Cleaning, grinding, sanding, smoking, or polishing can create nuisance dust. Nuisance dust also includes pollen. You can wear a respirator or mask to reduce your exposure to nuisance dust.

Wildfire smoke and air pollution

Wildfire smoke and other types of air pollution consist of small particles, other compounds like vapors, and gases such as carbon monoxide. During periods of extremely poor air quality, it's not always possible to reduce exposure enough to prevent health effects by closing windows or limiting time outdoors. See EPA for guidance and health fact sheets.

How they protect you

Air purifying particulate respirators and masks work by removing particles and blocking droplets. This reduces your exposure to harmful respiratory hazards. Correctly wearing a respirator or mask can protect you from some respiratory hazards.

Respirators are more protective than masks. You can use respirators such as filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) and elastomeric respirators (quarter-mask and half-mask types) at home and out in the community. Wearing a NIOSH Approved® respirator reduces your exposure to hazards in the air.

Masks are a less protective option. Examples include barrier face coverings (BFCs), disposable face masks, and cloth masks. Disposable face masks and cloth masks are the least effective at reducing exposures.

How they protect others

Respirators and masks may filter particles and block droplets when you exhale (breathe, talk, cough, etc.). This reduces the risk that a person with a respiratory infection will spread germs to others. If you have a respiratory infection, there’s a chance you could pass your infection to others. Wearing a respirator or mask reduces the number of germs that you exhale into the environment around you. This is one way to prevent the spread of respiratory germs from person to person.

There is no standard test to measure the level of protection a respirator or mask provides to others around you. The more closely a respirator or mask fits to your face, including fully covering your nose and mouth, the more likely the filter is to capture your exhaled particles or droplets. A respirator or mask with a loose fit will allow more particles and droplets to exit through the gaps around your face. Additionally, the better the filtration of the respirator or mask, the better the expected level of protection. If you are sick, isolating yourself away from others is a more effective way to protect others than wearing a respirator or mask.

Filtration

Respirators and masks reduce your exposure by filtering some particles out and blocking droplets when you inhale. They can help protect you from inhaling particles like smoke, air pollution, mold, and germs. It is important to consider the level of filtration and fit when selecting a respirator or mask.

Respirators and some masks, like BFCs, are manufactured to standards developed in collaboration with government and industry partners.

These standards specify requirements like the level of

• Filtration
• Fit
• Quality controls

Standards help ensure that a respirator or mask will protect as intended if worn appropriately. Some masks, like many disposable face masks and cloth masks, are not made to a standard. They provide unknown levels of protection.

To find out how well a respirator or mask filters out particles, look to see if the manufacturer claims a percentage filtration based on standards. NIOSH Approved respirators, like N95® filtering facepiece respirators, meet the most rigorous standards. Respirators conforming to international standards, like the KN95, are also tested to a standard. NIOSH Approved and international respirators will report the level of filtration they provide, such as a minimum of 95% or a minimum of 80%. However, those conforming to international standards may not have the rigorous quality assurance requirements meeting those that are NIOSH Approved.

Depending on the intended use, manufacturers may test their respirators and masks to numerous standards. Masks that claim to meet the ASTM BFC Standard will report the level of filtration they provide, such as a minimum of 20%.

Fit

The respirator and mask can only filter particles that try to pass through the filter material. Filtering facepiece respirators and elastomeric respirators cover the nose and mouth and fit tightly against the face creating a seal (tight-fitting) that forces the particles to pass through the filter material. Masks are designed to cover your nose and mouth but not form a tight seal to your face (loose-fitting). Using masks that are tighter to your face forces particle through the filter material. If gaps exist between your face and the respirator or mask, some small particles that you cannot see can enter your nose or mouth through those gaps.

Minimizing these gaps is important. The bridge of the nose and the sides of the respirator or mask are common locations for leaks. Facial hair is also a common cause for gaps. Because the size and shape of your face is unique, you might need to try a few different respirators or masks to find one that forms a good seal to your face.

NIOSH Approved respirators and BFCs will come with instructions on how to wear, store, and clean or properly dispose of the respirator or BFC. You should wear these according to the manufacturer's instructions without modifications. How to Use Your N95 Respirator and How to Care for Your Mask provide generic instructions on how to properly wear an N95 respirator and how to care for a cloth and disposable face mask.

Manufacturing quality

High manufacturing quality gives you confidence that a respirator or mask will protect you as intended. Manufacturing quality demonstrates that the manufacturer is able to consistently manufacture a product to the specifications of the original design. Some standards require the manufacturer to have a written quality plan. Others, like the NIOSH approval process for respirators, require the manufacturer to show the quality of their respirator or mask. NIOSH also conducts factory and product audits for NIOSH Approved respirators to ensure manufacturers maintain quality.

Safety precautions

Wearing a respirator can make it harder to breathe. If you have a medical condition such as a heart or lung problem, ask your doctor before using a respirator or mask.

If you have difficulty breathing, get dizzy, or have other symptoms while wearing a respirator, go to a place with cleaner air and remove it.

Wearing a respirator, especially if it is hot or you are physically active, can increase heat-related illness. Take breaks often and drink water.

Considerations for specific groups

Children

Children ages 2 years and older can wear respirators and masks. However, NIOSH Approved respirators do not come in suitable sizes for very young children. Choose a comfortable respirator or mask that your child can wear properly. If a respirator or mask fits poorly or is uncomfortable, a child might take it off or wear it incorrectly (for example, pulling it down from their nose). This reduces the intended benefits.

• Choose a size that fits over the child's nose and under the chin but does not impair vision.
• Follow the user instructions for the respirator or mask. These instructions may show how to make sure it fits properly.

NIOSH Approved respirators and international respirators may be available in smaller sizes that fit children. However, manufacturers typically design them to be used by adults in workplaces. They may not have been tested for broad use in children.

People with disabilities

People of all ages with certain disabilities may find it difficult to wear a respirator or mask. Challenges may be caused by:

• Being sensitive to materials on the face
• Difficulty understanding the importance of wearing a respirator or mask for protection
• Having difficulty controlling behavior to keep the respirator or mask in place

People with certain disabilities or their caregivers can assess whether they need to wear a respirator or mask. They should do this by considering the person's ability to:

• Wear a respirator or mask correctly with proper fit
• Avoid frequent touching of the respirator or mask and face
• Limit sucking, drooling, or having excess saliva on the respirator or mask
• Remove the respirator or mask without assistance
• Communicate

To make communicating easier, you may consider wearing a clear mask or a mask with a clear panel. If a clear mask is not available, you might use other options to communicate while wearing a mask that covers the lips. Examples include using written communication, closed captioning, or decreasing background noise.