Table 2.
Types of masks and their properties.
| Type of mask | Characteristics | Uses | Findings | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surgical mask | Filter particles of size 3 μm with 95% efficiency. | Hospitals and the general public | Cost-friendly, single time usage, fluid-resistant, lower adverse health risk, useful while CPR | (Li, Zhao et al., 2021) |
| Filtering facepiece respirator(N95) | Filter outs 5–50 μm aerosols. | Majorly by health care workers | Face sealing property, reduced microplastic inhalation risk, increased CO2 retention and humidity, eye dryness problem, not fit for a longer duration | (Ahmad et al., 2020; Boccardo, 2021; Serin & Caglar, 2020) |
| Half face mask (P3 filter) | Filters 80% of aerosols. | At the crowded, dusty place | Does not slip from the face, durable for 8 hours, increased fatigue during CPR | (Leung et al., 2020; Serin & Caglar, 2020) |
| Cloth mask | Prevents particles of diameter >200 nm. | Indoor usage by the general public | Affordable, reusable, loose-fitting, less effective against viruses, not fluid resistant | (Davies et al., 2013; Leung et al., 2020) |