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. 2020 Aug 3;42(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s40902-020-00268-1

Table 2.

A brief comparison between masks and respirators

Mask type Standard Filtration effectiveness Re-usability
Single-use medical masks China: YY/T0969

3.0 microns: > 95%

0.1 microns: not effective

No
Surgical masks China : YY 0469

3.0 microns: > 95%

0.1 microns: > 30%

No
Surgical masks USA: ASTM F2100 Level 1 Level 2, 3 No

3.0 microns: > 95%

0.1 microns: > 95%

3.0 microns: > 95%

0.1 microns: > 95%

Surgical masks Europe: EN 14683 Type 1 Type 2,3 No

3.0 microns: > 95%

0.1 microns: > 95%

3.0 microns: > 95%

0.1 microns: > 95%

Respirator masks USA: NIOSH 42 CFR 84 N95 N99 N100 Yes (under especial conditions)
0.3 microns: > 95% 0.3 microns: > 99% 0.3 microns: > 99.97%
Respirator masks Europe: EN 149: 2001 FFP1 FFP2 FFP3 Yes (under especial conditions)
0.3 microns : >80% 0.3 microns : >94% 0.3 microns : >99%
Elastomeric respirators USA: NIOSH 42 CFR 84 10 to 50 APF Yes
PAPR USA: NIOSH 42 CFR 84 1000 APF Yes

PAPR powered air-purifying respirator. APF assigned protection factor