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ANSES calls into question the effectiveness of antipollution masks
Sold to protect fine particles, so-called "antipollution" masks would be ineffective ANSES. Among other causes, differences in design, inappropriate forms depending on the morphology of faces …
Attached to the mouth and tied behind the head, masks called antipollution are supposed to protect against the penetration into the body of fine particles and other pollutants in the ambient air. But do these filters really spare our airways from these toxic substances? The Ministries in charge of health and labor seized ANSES * to conduct the survey.
Effective in the laboratory only ….
Results, in the laboratory, the masks have a high efficiency. But " in actual conditions of use ", things are all different. " The effectiveness of a mask depends on its design, the performance of the filter with which it is equipped, and other parameters such as its adaptation to the morphology of the user. "Precisely," efficiency decreases because of a poor fit to the face, the lack of maintenance of the mask, the lack of information and training of the user, a lack of intense physical activity "
Moreover," most masks known as "antipollution" identified on the French market are designed to protect particles in the ambient air and do not protect against substances present in the gaseous state "
According to ANSES, the data on the effectiveness of these devices" are insufficient to demonstrate a health benefit and recommend their use ". Wearing it may even overexpose the population to pollution: this mask " may give a false sense of protection to its user and lead to behavior possibly leading to overexposure to pollutants in the air ".
Which levers should be favored?
" In order to reduce the health impacts of ambient air pollution, the Agency reiterates the importance of acting primarily at the source, by limiting pollutant emissions. »Another measure, better inform the population,« in particular sensitive people, on the behaviors to adopt to limit the daily exposure to the air pollution ». Same with respect to " travelers and expatriates in certain areas of the world where ambient air pollution levels are particularly high "
" For workers exposed to pollution from the environment, the Agency recommends that prevention actors take up the problem and include it in their risk badessment process.
A major public health priority while " according to the World Health Organization (WHO), ambient air pollution [constitue] health in the world ". Notably because it causes respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
* National Agency for Food Safety, Environment and Labor
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