[Real-time] When will the “fog of fog” in the market for anti-mite masks be solved?

In autumn and winter, heavily polluted weather in northern China is frequent, and Beijing has already sounded four warnings of heavy air pollution. In misty weather, masks have become the "standard" for Beijingers.

(Source: Oriental IC)

Mist-locked masks continue to be "favored"

In recent years, the production and sales of masks have soared. According to statistics, before 2013, there were about 500 domestic enterprises producing masks, including industrial masks, medical masks, and masks for civil use. With the frequent visits of haze, the number of demand continues to climb. At present, the number of enterprises producing masks in the country has approached 1,000, and the number has doubled. Each year, about 600 million masks are produced nationwide.

In a pharmacy in Beijing, the reporter found that more than a dozen kinds of masks were placed prominently: medical non-woven masks, activated carbon masks, anti-particulate masks with breathing valves, colorful cotton masks... really dazzling. However, the production of smog protective masks has always lacked uniform standards. There are a wide variety of masks on the market and the quality is uneven.

On an e-commerce platform, the reporter entered “anti-fog and masks” and searched for 30,000 items. Almost every product is marked with words such as "fog-proof" and "anti-PM2.5", and claims that the filtration efficiency is above 90% or 95%. On the page of some products, there is a quality inspection report of the inspection department.

The ad-hypothetical slogan made consumers who talked about the color change without hesitation. According to Alibaba Health Data, during the “Double 11” period that just ended, the mask shop sold by Alibaba's retail platform will open, surpassing the entire building area of ​​the Forbidden City.

Lack of use of logos for industrial countries

According to the relevant person in charge of the China Textile Commerce Association, many of the smog respirator masks on sale do not have a uniform logo, and the brands are mixed, and many of them are full of “cottage” masks.

In a variety of protective masks, the reporter saw the words "GB2626-2006." The person in charge explained that this is actually a national standard for "Respiratory protective equipment self-priming filter-type particulate respirator" implemented in 2006 in China. It is mainly aimed at dust masks used in professional workplaces, which is commonly referred to as industrial Dust masks, these masks have good respiratory protection for non-oil particles, and have strict conditions for wearing. If you use it for a long time, it can easily cause dizziness or other uncomfortable conditions.

Radon is composed of dust, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, organic hydrocarbons and other particles in the air. The person in charge said that the big cities are affected by automobile exhaust, life fumes, etc. There are a lot of oily particles in the loquat. When the standard of GB2626-2006 was formulated, the related air quality standards for PM2.5 had not been issued yet, and no oily particulate matter was included in the scope of detection. Therefore, it is still unknown whether masks that meet this standard can “parry” oily particles.

At the same time, industrial dust masks are tailor-made for specific and intensified jobs. Production standards such as leak rate and respiratory resistance are usually referenced by young men. For example, the maximum allowable suction resistance specified in the GB 2626-2006 standard is 350 Pa and the maximum allowable exhalation resistance is 250 Pa. Both of these values ​​are relatively high, and it is difficult to meet the comfort needs of the general population when wearing them. This is why many elderly people and children feel suffocating and stuffy when wearing masks.

Group wisdom products are finally "according to"

On January 18th this year, the “PM2.5 Respirator” group standard (T/CTCA 1-2015), which was developed and completed by China's safety protection industry experts, protective mask manufacturers and related research departments over the past two years, was formally released to the community. Announced. This is China's first standard for civilian smog masks.

A PM2.5 protective mask is qualified, the protective effect is the primary factor. According to the standard, masks must have a filtration efficiency of at least 90%. In accordance with the different filtering efficiency, the standard will be divided into two kinds of masks F90 and F95, respectively, corresponding to more than 90% filtration efficiency and 95%. Prior to this, our common anti-fog masks were mostly American standards beginning with the N95 or European standards beginning with the FFP.

One of the drafters of the standard, Dr. Cheng Yuming of the Institute of Urban Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that wearing a mask that conforms to F95 can effectively filter more than 95% of the human body's pollutant inhalation when the concentration of PM2.5 is 500 micrograms per cubic meter. Concentrations of less than 25 μg/m3 can provide better protection.

Respiratory resistance is an important indicator of human comfort when wearing a mask. When people wear masks to breathe, the masks have a certain resistance to air flow. When the inspiratory resistance is too high, people feel dizziness, chest tightness and other physical discomfort. The suction resistance of PM2.5 protective masks specified in the standard does not exceed 150 Pa, and the expiratory resistance does not exceed 120 Pa, which is far below the industrial “GB”. "Not only to ensure smooth breathing, but also to ensure the inhalation of fresh oxygen," stressed Zheng Xiaoming.

The smaller resistance does not mean that the requirement for the sealing of the mask is reduced. The leak rate is also an important criterion for detecting whether a mask is working. Zheng Yuming told reporters: “If the mask and the wearer's nose have gaps on both sides, it shows that its lack of fit on the face. The mist from the cracks contact the respiratory organs, this mask is almost ineffective.” Reporter noted, In order to ensure the sealing, many masks have been used to control the part of the nose wing. According to standards, at least to ensure that the leak rate of 8% or less.

In addition to the above several important assessment items, due to the direct contact of the mask with the person's nose, nose and face, it is also necessary to consider the microorganisms, the effect of preventing formaldehyde, the indicator of PH value, and the use of dyes. Experts suggest that some undesirable dyes contain carcinogenic aromatic ammonia, try to use a white mask to reduce health risks.

After prolonged use of the particulate prevention mask, the filtered particulate matter will gradually block the filter material, reduce the protective effect, increase respiratory resistance, and increase hygiene problems. Therefore, whether it is a disposable mask or a protective insert in a cotton mask, it cannot be cleaned or disinfected before use, and it should be discarded after a period of use.

Can the Market Chaos Be Changed Under the Ruler?

"PM2.5 protective mask" group standard This "scale" from the implementation of the formal implementation of March 1, has now been more than six months. According to the data provided by the China Textile Commerce Association, 37 products of more than 20 companies have passed the standard test.

Before the association’s safety and health protection products committee authorized, PM2.5 protective masks that meet the standard are printed on the product packaging and each mask, paste “PM2.5 protective mask” logo, and the structure of the mask (with Abandonment type, replaceable type), size categories (large, medium, small, etc.), such as wake-up target, so that the quality inspection department can detect and identify with consumers.

However, when reporters got a qualified test sample, they found that they did not meet the specific criteria for implementing the standard.

On November 1st, another "ruler" was born. The National Recommended Standard for “Protective Masks for Daily Protective Masks” (GB/T 32610-201) issued by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ) and the National Standardization Administration of the People's Republic of China was formally implemented, and the standards also made protective effects on fine particles and the safety performance of wearing them. Clearly defined.

Similarly, when reporters visited the major pharmacies in Beijing, many pharmacy workers only said “I heard there was a new standard, but the shop does not currently have masks of the standard.”

“There is no specific label on the enterprise packaging. First, because of the implementation of the standard, there is a process. Companies need to digest the existing product inventory, and it takes a while to re-package. Second, because some companies have a wait-and-see attitude, they want to see the market. In addition to national standards and standards outside the national standard, which is more recognized by the market and the government, said the relevant head of the China Textile Business Association.

The reporter learned that the recommended national standards focus on basic guarantees, and group standards focus on improving competitiveness. In addition to mandatory national standards (GB), the recommended standards (GB/T) and group standards (T/) are not mandatory, and production companies can independently decide whether to adopt them. If you do not follow such standards, you do not assume economic or legal responsibility.

Under the two "rules", one side is that people's enthusiasm for flood prevention masks "is increasing day by day." One side is the industry's standard of production. Different from the immediate effect of the executive order, although the standard has been set, it is necessary to use the market's forceful mechanism to allow the company to implement it independently in order to fully roll out the standard. Under the “Ten-side Doze” environment, it seems that it will take some time to select qualified masks at a glance.