# Are N95 Masks Effective at Filtering Airborne Viruses? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [February 12, 2023, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-n95-masks-effective-at-filtering-airborne-viruses/979683 "2023-02-12T22:33:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 10
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-n95-masks-effective-at-filtering-airborne-viruses/979683/10 "2023-02-12T23:19:42Z")
I find it extraordinary that someone would think that the efficacy of masks is thought to be extraordinary. The science behind the mask filtering is well-established hence the reason for their use in medical settings. It’s not the size of the virus but the size of the aerosol particles which are huge compared to the virus itself. Also, as Chronos already mentioned, the filtering mechanism of N95, KN95, and even surgical masks rely on electrostatic attractions that are highly effective. Here’s a simple breakdown on the physics and chemistry behind masks. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eAdanPfQdCA/maxresdefault.jpg "The Astounding Physics of N95 Masks") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAdanPfQdCA) While surgical masks would not help you if you were in an enclosed room with a covid patient, even they reduce the chances of catching covid in moderate-risk setting like a grocery store. Of course, masks work extremely well in protecting others from your germs since they prevent the formation of small aerosols by simply increasing the humidity high behind the mask. Again, this is also firmly established science. I started a thread a year and a half ago on this which was probably a year after the efficacy of masks against SARS-CoV-2 was pretty firmly resolved. > [@SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Mask Effectiveness (Factual)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sars-cov-2-variants-and-mask-effectiveness-factual/946102): > > In this [thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1660), @puzzlegal, @ThelmaLou, @Jay_Z, and I were discussing the robustness in protection of masks against the new Delta variant. I started this thread to avoid hijacking that one. The question is, does the higher transmissibility of the Delta variant decrease the effectiveness of masks? [Why The Delta Variant Is So Contagious: A New Study Sheds Light : Goats and Soda : NPR](https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2021/07/08/1013794996/why-the-delta-variant-is-so-contagious-a-new-study-sheds-light) A few things to consider: The viral load in the respiratory tract (1000X higher in Delta variant), will effect… @Retzbu_Tox provided some great links in this post > [@SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Mask Effectiveness (Factual)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sars-cov-2-variants-and-mask-effectiveness-factual/946102/14): > > If you want more reading material, these are links to articles regarding mask effectiveness that the head of my local county health department provided today when challenged by one of the judges about mask recommendations. The delta variant, which is on the increase locally, had prompted the interaction between the health department and the judge. I don’t know if any of the articles touch specifically on the issue of equal effectiveness for all COVID variants. I would wonder if newer variants h… --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-n95-masks-effective-at-filtering-airborne-viruses/979683)._