inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf

inspiring canadians to live better.

healthing leaf
mosquito-borne diseases affect up to 700 million people each year. learn more
powered by: valneva canada inc.
home / diseases & conditions / coronavirus / masks & other personal protection

how well your n95 fits depends on gender and ethnicity

a correct mask fit with a tight seal is far more important for protection from covid-19 than the filtration capacity of the mask.

by diana duong

sep 17 2020
read time 2 minute read
join the conversation
n95 masks often don't fit female and asian healthcare workers
age, weight, face length and width, lip length, nose length, and nose bridge width are some of the factors that affect face mask fit. getty images

if you are a woman, an n95 mask won’t fit you as well as man. even less so, if you happen to be asian.

a recent study published in the journal anaesthesia found that 95 per cent of men passed fit tests on their masks, compared to 85 per cent of women. higher fit-pass rates were found in caucasians at 90 per cent, compared to asian people at 84 per cent. asian women had particularly low initial fit-pass rates, with an average of 60 per cent.

a good fit is more important than the filter material of the mask, which is why healthcare workers often shave off facial hair to get the mask to properly seal to the skin and prevent droplets from getting in the sides.
some other factors that affect how well a masks fit include age, weight, face length and width, lip length, nose length, and nose bridge width. there is no current data on the best mask depending on face length and width.
adjusting the earloop straps and bending the nose wire so it creates a tight seal over the nose bridge can also help improve a mask’s fit.
“satisfactory airborne protection will only be provided if the filtering facepiece respirators are properly fitted to the individual’s face, providing a tight facial seal,” says senior co-author professor britta von ungern-sternberg, from the perth children’s hospital and the university of western australia, where the study originated.

related stories

the pitfalls of wearing a mask
masks sometimes contribute to foggy glasses, dry eyes, and maskne. luckily, there is a lot we can do.
masks save lives, but they have some annoying side effects. stock/getty

two metre rule is outdated: researchers
covid-19 transmission depends more on environment, numbers, length of contact time and masks.
movie theatres are an example of a place where people will spend hours together in a poorly-ventilated area, while likely laughing, talking, and exhaling droplets.

advertisement

“airborne protection is decreased in the presence of a leak as unfiltered air will be drawn inside the mask.”

fit checks good, fit tests better

while healthcare workers can check the fit of their mask by testing for air leaks using positive and negative pressure checks, the authors of the study say they are not a substitute for standardized fit tests that measure if a mask is worn correctly in a simulated work condition. fit tests, which can cost between $50 and $100,  also help identify the size and shape that fits each individual best. it’s a worthwhile expense, the researchers note, in relation to the costs of illness, sick leave and legal costs of infections acquired at the hospital.

“the covid-19 pandemic has highlighted deficiencies of some healthcare facilities to protect their hcws in line with national and international recommendations and the requirement for formal fit-testing programmes appears to be particularly important,” the authors say.

dduong@postmedia.com | @dianaduo
don’t miss the latest on covid-19, reopening and life. subscribe to healthing’s daily newsletter coming out of covid.

comments

postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. comments may take up to an hour for moderation before appearing on the site. we ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. we have enabled email notifications—you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, there is an update to a comment thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. visit our community guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings.