Unfortunately, the coronavirus pandemic has also brought some myths about respiratory protective equipment which has spread together with the pandemic. These myths concern especially the FFP3 respirators and their fitness to be used for medical purposes. Where do these respirators really stand concerning their efficiency and safety compared to nanofiber facemasks?
The bottom line of the problem with common respirators is that their efficiency relies on electrostatic filtration. The electrostatic charge of a filter discharges very quickly after coming into contact with liquids or air humidity and that leads to a substantial decrease of its efficiency. If a user wants to stay protected, he or she must take the respirator off his or her face after approximately 30 minutes – once the filter dries out, its level of efficiency will increase again. Some pr...