Thread: Alberta Health's procedural masks.

@AHS_media: "These masks are all safe, certified and meet ATSM Level 1 filtration requirements."

Longtime supplier PRI•MED follows ASTM F2100-11 (2011).

New supplier Vanch follows YY/T 0969-2013.

@Arfarfarf8 @mchatenay @Dave_Khan

There are key differences between the North American and Chinese standards.

ASTM Level 1 requires both Bacterial (3.0 µm) & Particle (0.1 µm) Filtering Efficiency ≥ 95%.

YY/T is silent on anything smaller than 3.0 µm.

Coronavirus average 0.125 µm.

https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/comparison-mask-standards-rating-effectiveness/

Depending on the English translation, YY/T 0969-2013 requires the nose piece to be "pliable" or "plastic".

Unfortunately, Vanch took that to mean a non-pliable plastic strip in some batches, and a thin twist tie in others.

https://twitter.com/Albertaardvark/status/1251743558270242816

We need to see:
- AHS purchasing specification for these masks
- how Vanch was qualified as a supplier
- the test results of the pre-purchase samples
- the QC test results before release to front line
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-procedural-masks-health-care-1.5539134

There are both logistical and health concerns with @AHS_media plan to remove the plastic wrappers from the masks here on arrival. Indefinitely.

Logistical: This is 200-500K masks/day. Who is going to unpack them, and where, to keep the masks clean? https://twitter.com/AHS_media/status/1251955092632170496?s=20

Health: Polypropylene extrusion creates VOCs.

Which VOCs, at what levels, from Vanch's mfg process are trapped in plastic wrappers? What are the acceptable levels? What testing is being done before release to frontline workers?

http://www.brady.eu/en-eu/related-information/sorbents-and-spill/spc-faq/faq-3

http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-14392011000400024

Get ready for more issues soon.

"They continue to try and procure other types of acceptable alternative procedural masks, including expecting large orders (in the millions) of new types of procedural masks by the end of April."

https://twitter.com/UnitedNurses/status/1252623015528955905?s=20

https://www.facebook.com/UnitedNurses/posts/10157434726138175