What Is an N95 Mask?
An N95 mask is a widely-used, short-listed name for an N95 filtering face mask, which is a popular, protective facepiece respirator that performs the U.S. national standard for protection against particulates (including dust, mold, pollen, smoke, and sawdust) and vapors (including chlorine gas, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ozone, and other harmful chemicals). The N95 standard rates these substances based on their effects on the respiratory system. "A" rated materials should prevent most people from becoming ill from exposure to these substances while "B" rated materials should allow some of these agents to cause illness to a degree. Although N95 masks are made to meet the standards set forth by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the materials are still available in different styles and with different levels of protection, depending upon the needs of a user. There are two common styles of N95 mask , one of which is the full-face ...