The fourth season of the American TV series “The Walking Dead” has concluded. While audiences await the fifth season, they are also deeply analyzing and discussing the show’s post-apocalyptic survival rules. In the apocalypse, seeing others is like looking at flowers in the fog—details remain unclear. Isn’t real life much the same? With smog lingering incessantly, perhaps we should, like the characters in the show, come up with a set of “smog survival rules.” The most direct and convenient way to combat smog is to wear a mask.
The United States categorizes masks into three types: N-series masks are used solely for protection against non-oily particulate matter, such as N95. All components of smog fall under non-oily particulate matter, so choosing this type of mask is sufficient for smog protection. R-series masks protect against both oily and non-oily particulate matter for up to 8 hours, such as R95. There is no need to choose this type for smog protection. P-series masks are designed for long-term protection against both oily and non-oily particulate matter, such as P95. Again, there is no need to choose this type for smog protection. Under the U.S. standard, the number following the letter indicates the filtration rate for 0.3-micron particles (PM0.3, similarly hereafter), for example, 95 means a 95% filtration rate. The higher the number, the better the protection, but also the greater the breathing resistance. Therefore, N95 offers the best balance between protection and comfort, making it the choice suitable for most people. In addition to 95, there are also 99 (minimum filtration rate ≥99%) and 100 (≥99.97%).
The Chinese standard is essentially a copy of the U.S. standard, divided into KN-series masks for filtering non-oily particulate matter (equivalent to the U.S. N-series), and KP-series masks for oily particulate matter protection (equivalent to the U.S. P-series). KN90 and KP90 have a filtration rate ≥90%; KN95 and KP95 have a filtration rate ≥95%; KN100 and KP100 have a filtration rate ≥99.97%.
Currently, common masks on the market include 3M, respro, kowa Sanjigen (Kowa Sanjigen), Green Shield, and vogmask.Each brand of mask has certain advantages, and today we’ll compare the performance of each brand.
1. Smog Protection Index
3M: 3M masks come in many types. The higher the level, the higher the dust prevention rate and the higher the price. Generally, N95 is fully adequate for daily travel needs. Therefore, 3M masks can basically defend against smog. The packaging of the 3M 8210V mask is very standardized, with the N95 execution standard clearly marked on the front, ensuring a filtration efficiency of at least 95% for non-oily solid and liquid particulate matter.
Respro: This brand of mask is made in the UK and complies with the EU EN149 FFP1 mask execution standard, effectively filtering PM0.3 ≥80%, demonstrating clear and strong smog protection capabilities. The filter cartridge packaging explicitly states that it uses “electrostatic filter cotton” technology, which can effectively filter PM0.3—particles much smaller than PM2.5—so its smog protection function is undoubtedly reliable.