THE SALE of disposable facemasks gained traction beginning February but are all facemasks created equal? Not all may offer protection from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and worse, add to growing COVID-related wastes.
Government regulators should be alerted about the widespread sale in the local market of protective face masks that are not included in the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) List of Notified Face Masks.
We are concerned that some facemasks may not be compliant to essential quality and safety requirements, particularly on filtration efficiency, and may not offer adequate defense against COVID-19 infection if not combined with other protective measures.
Some products claim to possess effective filtering capacity that is not duly certified by a designated body. The following are examples of uncertified product claims as written on the product packaging: “effectively block the inhalation of bacteria and viruses,” “high bacterial filtration efficiency,” “effective filtration,” “high efficiency filtration,” “3-layer filtration,” and “3 layers of care.”
We are worried that some of these products are passed off as medical-grade masks and used by those who are advised by health authorities to wear such masks, especially frontline health workers.
According to the World Health Organization, medical masks (also known as surgical masks) should be worn by health workers, people who have COVID-19 symptoms and those who take care of someone suspected or confirmed with COVID-19.
We are also concerned that enterprising individuals are sourcing unnotified facemasks from shady wholesalers and selling them elsewhere or online. A quick check of facemask advertisements on popular online shopping platforms will show rampant sale of products not found in the FDA List of Notified Face Masks.
We are further concerned that the unchecked importation, distribution and sale of unnotified protective facemasks is leading to non-judicious consumption of single-use, non-recyclable and non-biodegradable plastic facemasks and their irresponsible disposal, which causes recklessly discarded masks to flow out to the canals, rivers and into the oceans.
The FDA must issue a public health warning against the purchase and use of unnotified protective facemasks and to undertake other measures to prevent and control the proliferation of such products in the local market and in online shopping sites.
