[ad_1]
No one can protect us from ourselves. We have said, written, repeated ad nauseam: the virus exits through the nose and mouth, and many people become infected without knowing it, for this you must always wear the mask and correctly. And just please hold it under your chin or leave your nose uncovered. With that said, let’s see how to recognize masks that protect better, are easier to use, and have less impact on the environment.
Certification from the Higher Institute of Health
For the entire duration of the Covid emergency, which Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte extended until January 31, 2021, the Higher Institute of Health will validate the safety of surgical masks produced in Italy. You do this by verifying tests that evaluate the effectiveness of bacterial filtration and allow you to establish compliance with the standards. the provisions of the decree of CuraItalia on March 17: given the difficulty of finding the necessary amounts, the extraordinary provisions establish that As an exception, the masks can also be marketed without the CE mark, but after the green light from the health authorities. The measure refers to the production of surgical masks, the so-called altruists, which retain what comes out of the mouth and nose, and therefore everyone protects themselves by protecting others.
The 5 requirements for functionality and security
Be certified by the Surgical ISS made in Italy must respect 5 requirements (defined by the UNI EN 14683 standard): resistance to liquid splashes, breathability, bacterial filtration efficiency, microbial cleaning and biocompatibility (They should not cause allergic reactions). From March to July, Invitalia, the National Development Agency, owned by the Ministry of Economy, supports its production with 50 million euros for companies that convert (the measure suspended on July 15 due to exhaustion of economic resources). The cost of the certification process amounts to 25 thousand euros for a duration of 3 months. Authorized companies 608.
The three types of surgical masks
Good, Surgical masks on the market with authorization from the ISS can be of three types: disposable, washable and filter washable. In all three cases, the good ones from the false ones are recognizable by the presence of the CE marking, or by the validation of the Higher Institute of Health, both accompanied by the writing according to EN 14683 on the packaging. Their capacity to filter outwards, that is, the degree of protection they offer towards those around us, varies from 95% (type I) to 98% (type II). They must be certified as medical devices.
Type two: washable. These are ISS certified masks based on the 5 legal requirements. They are made with layers of treated fabric, usually OEKO-TEX Standard 100 cotton. They must be washed every 8 hours up to a predetermined number of times (usually 20), during which time they do not lose the requirements of resistance to liquid splashes. breathability, bacterial filtration efficiency and microbial cleaning. Washing should preferably be by hand or at 30ºC with spin at 600 rpm. (cannot be tumble dried, do not use fabric softeners or cytotoxic detergents). Warning: they have nothing to do with fashion or community-defined self-made masks, which are considered in line with the requirements of the law but do not guarantee the level of protection.
Type three: washable filter: same characteristics as the previous ones, they also have a special pocket to insert a new activated carbon filter. There are some forty companies in Italy authorized by the ISS to produce washable masks (with or without filter) and they have taken public incentives for more than 2.2 million euros of the 3.5 million authorized investments. (34 for washable, 10 for washable with replaceable filter).
Environmental impact
Certificates as washable are not allowed. Of course they cost more, on average around 5 euros, but taking into account that with 15/20 masks of this type a student can cover an entire school year, this amounts to 25 cents a day, compared to 20 cents a day. (a figure most likely paid by Civil Protection). ) and 50 cents of controlled price for the public. But the tons of daily waste that will be eliminated would be 2.2 and not 44. In addition, some schools have not received the masks, but the general indication to bring the disposable operating room from home, obviously because otherwise it would be too difficult to verify the type of mask that each student wears and their safety requirements.. The protests of the associations in defense of the environment until now have remained unheard of. Reason? There is no confidence in the fact that they are then washed daily, thus compromising safety. Since life goes on even outside of school, no one prevents parents, adults and children from making a decision of responsibility that goes beyond the tip of the nose, buying (when found) certified washable products: after all, the cost is not higher, they are also medical devices, exempt from VAT and deductible from the tax return. With mandatory prescription: wash them daily.
October 27, 2020 | 23:34
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED
[ad_2]
