"Children's Hygiene Mask", "Disposable Children's Mask", "Disposable Medical Mask", "Disposable Nursing Mask", "Disposable Student Mask", "3D Stereoscopic Disposable Child Protective Mask"... In the face of a wide variety of children's masks, how should parents choose for their children? In order to let parents better choose to wear safe and epidemic-proof children's masks, the Heilongjiang Consumers Association recently conducted a comparative test of 60 children's masks sold on the market. The results showed that 13 children's masks did not meet the explicit product standards, involving items such as pH value, mask belt, surface moisture resistance, ventilation resistance, filtration efficiency and protective effect.
Items that do not meet the explicit criteria involve filtration efficiency, etc
The 60 children's mask samples selected for this comparative test involved 46 production units and 41 distribution units, including 31 flat masks, 15 willow leaf masks, and 14 3D stereoscopic masks, with unit prices ranging from 0.26 yuan / only to 4.49 yuan / only.
At present, the state has issued a technical specification for children's masks GB/T38880-2020 "Technical Specifications for Children's Masks", which is a recommended standard and will be implemented from May 6, 2020. At present, the product standards indicated on the market for children's masks are not uniform, and the 60 samples purchased in this comparative trial cover 12 categories of product standards.
The main basis of this comparative test is GB/T38880-2020 "Technical Specifications for Children's Masks" and GB19083-2010 "Technical Requirements for Medical Protective Masks", and the children's masks are compared and tested from several aspects such as protection, safety, durability and comfort. The results showed that 13 of the 60 test samples did not meet their stated product standards, and the non-conforming items involved pH value, mask belt, surface moisture resistance, ventilation resistance, filtration efficiency and protective effect. Formaldehyde, decomposable carcinogenic aromatic amine dyes, migratory fluorescent brighteners and ethylene oxide were not detected in 60 samples; the microbial indicators met the relevant standard requirements.
In addition, there are three samples that clearly indicate that the standard is GB/T32610-2016 "Technical Specifications for Daily Protective Masks", and the standard clearly stipulates that it does not apply to infant and child respiratory protection products.
"Fengfeng "Green Thought" and other companies mask protection performance is poor
The more efficient the filtration of the mask and the closer it fits into the wearer's face, the better the protective performance. Filtration efficiency is the most important performance indicator in mask protection, including particulate matter filtration efficiency (PFE) and bacterial filtration efficiency (BFE). The aerosol particle diameter of particulate matter is much smaller than the average particle diameter of bacterial aerosols, so the requirements are more stringent. Virus transmission is different from bacterial transmission, the virus itself can not exist alone, transmission requires a carrier, so the assessment of the mask's particulate matter filtration efficiency can reflect whether it can effectively prevent the new crown virus. In addition, the tightness of the facial fit is also a key indicator to assess the protective performance of the mask, mainly to assess the protective effect, leakage, and tightness of the three items.
In terms of protective performance, the results of this comparative test show that among the 60 samples, 44 samples have the protective performance to meet the requirements of children's protective masks, and the masks have good filtration efficiency and facial fit; the protective performance of 57 samples can meet the requirements of children's hygiene masks, and the particulate matter filtration efficiency and bacterial filtration efficiency are better; 3 samples have been comprehensively evaluated, and the protective performance is poor, including those produced by Shenzhen Fengfeng E-commerce Co., Ltd. Disposable children's masks (non-medical) distributed by Wanbao Green flagship store (online store), disposable three-dimensional masks /disposable masks (non-medical) produced by Yiwu Luen Mask Co., Ltd. and distributed by L+ Xituo (Renhe Store), etc.
"Di Gumi" and other 2 masks have a pH value exceeding the standard
Children's adaptability is poor, easy to be stimulated by external chemical factors, biological factors, physical factors, etc., skin diseases and other adverse reactions, so the selection and design of children's mask materials should pay attention to safety.
After testing, no formaldehyde, decomposable carcinogenic aromatic amine dyes, migratory fluorescent brighteners and ethylene oxide were detected in the 60 samples of this comparative test; the microbial indicators met the relevant standard requirements. According to the requirements of GB/T3880-2020 "Technical Specifications for Children's Masks", the pH value of children's masks should be between 4.0-7.5. However, there are two samples with pH values beyond this range and are not recommended for children to wear, namely, children's sanitary masks (W)/disposable children's masks produced by Xiamen Tengyue Industry and Trade Co., Ltd. and distributed by Digumi flagship store (online store), nominally Digumi Reangel trademark; disposable three-dimensional masks /disposable masks (non-medical) produced by Yiwu Luen Mask Co., Ltd. and distributed by L+ Xituo (Renhedian).
In terms of safety of use, the samples of 60 children's masks do not have sharp edges and tips, and the field of view, flame retardant performance, and nose clip meet the standard requirements, but there are differences in surface moisture resistance.
"Kefu" medical surgical masks are weak in durability
The design of the mask belt should be easy to wear, the breaking strength of each mask belt and the body of the mask should meet the relevant standard requirements, if the breaking force is not enough, it is easy to cause the mask belt to break off during the wearing and use of the mask, and the wearer may be in a risk environment.
In the durability test, the fracture strength of the mask belt and the body of the mask in this comparative test was tested according to the explicit product standard, and 4 samples did not meet the requirements of the explicit standard, involving a disposable medical mask produced by Guangzhou Shangdai Biotechnology Co., Ltd. and nominally the trademark of Youhekang; the Korean version of the KF94 mask (children's version) produced by Zhangjiagang Likang Protective Products Co., Ltd.; and the 2 medical surgical masks produced by Kefu Medical Technology Co., Ltd. These 4 mask belts are prone to breakage at the junction of the mask body, and there is a certain risk.
Consumption tips
The Heilongjiang Consumer Association reminds consumers that the quality of masks can affect the health and safety of children, and consumers should buy them on regular e-commerce platforms or pharmacies and specialty stores, and avoid buying them at roadside stalls or through friends without sales qualifications.
To view the product standards indicated for masks. The product name of the children's mask does not allow consumers to directly and effectively distinguish the product type, and should focus on the product standards indicated on the mask packaging, and select the mask that meets the requirements of the standard technical indicators in the corresponding use scenarios.
To see the appearance, choose the material. In addition to viewing standards, consumers should also pay attention to the appearance type of children's masks, because in the case of the same raw materials of meltblown cloth, the better the fit of the mask and the face, the better the protection effect. Three-dimensional masks are better fit to the face than flat masks, and the sealing of the headband is better than that of the earband. Choose a mask for your child to ensure the comfort of the mask, you can touch the mask when purchasing, if you can feel the sharp tip and sharp edge, then the mask is not qualified. (Reporter Liu Chuanjiang)
Source: China Consumer Daily