the.com/n95 respirator
The surgical mask's tough older sibling that actually stops what you're breathing in.
means A tight-fitting mask that filters at least 95% of airborne particles, including virus-carrying droplets and aerosols, by forcing air through multiple layers of electrostatic material.
from Developed by 3M in the 1970s as industrial safety gear for construction and chemical workers; the N95 designation comes from U.S. EPA standards (N = not oil-resistant, 95 = filters 95% of particles 0.3 microns or larger). Became globally famous during COVID-19 when suddenly everyone needed one.
seal matters mostAn N95 with gaps filters maybe 50%; fit-tested beats most real-world use
reusable mythCan last 8 hours of continuous wear; replacements cheaper than you'd think
global shortage peakEarly 2020: 300 million monthly U.S. need, near-zero stockpile existed
counterfeit epidemicDuring pandemic, up to 50% of online N95s were fakes with no filtration
for instance
honeywell h930 — Military-grade alternative; same filtration, different supply chain