Chennai: It is safe to say that the global pandemic has turned our world upside down and changed the notion of what was considered normal. Not only health, its impact can also be seen on various businesses tools.
While the pandemic has caused losses for several industries, it has also given rise to newer opportunities. Makers of masks, PPE kits, sanitising and disinfecting solutions are among the few products that have gained the spotlight.
This has created an opening for small and mid-size companies to grow and for large companies to diversify. While this is a wonderful opportunity, it has also given rise to a rat race for others in the health and hygiene space and various companies producing masks are spreading misinformation about the materials and technologies they are using which can be toxic or carcinogenic in nature and can lead to serious health concerns in the long run.
We are standing at a juncture where our lives are not just at risk due to the pandemic but also the protective equipment, we are using to shield ourselves from the virus.
It is high time that we realize that the masks readily available in the market are not just spreading misinformation, but also, they are carcinogenic in nature. Some products have 10-20% of benzalkonium chloride or commonly known as BAC.
Studies by scientists have reported respiratory toxicity of BAC. Exposure to BAC induces cytotoxicity and DNA damage in the human bronchial cell line and acute or repeated inhalation of BAC induces lung irritation, inflammation, and alveolar damage.
Some brands are admittedly using a reaction mass of Titanium Dioxide and Silver Chloride in its products. Fraudulent claims of corona killer masks are also doing the rounds. Use of Titanium Dioxide, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has stated that it is a suspected carcinogen associated with lung cancer if inhaled by human beings.
Researchers from Freie UniversitƤt Berlin and ITA RWTH Aachen, two of the most globally reputed academic institutions in virology and textiles, have confirmed the efficacy of Livinguardās self-disinfecting technology that permanently destroys the coronavirus when applied to textiles and is permanently bound (non-leaching) to the fabric.
Ask these five questions before choosing the mask:
* Is the mask certified or compliant with any applicable regulatory standard?
* How credible is the testing protocol against SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 and the reports from independent testing agencies / laboratories, and what modifications have been made to the testing protocol? – ISO 18184 is the internationally recognized standard to determine the antiviral activity of textile products.
* What is the durability of the antiviral performance ā how long can it be used for with such performance, how many washes can it sustain, how long does the performance last from date of manufacturing and/or opening the package? The ISO 18184 protocol requires that the mask be washed 10 times before testing ā has that been complied with?
* How safe are the antiviral agents used ā if the performance isnāt durable, why is that so? Does it claim to not leach chemicals?
* If there are any Antiviral claims then, has the technology been approved for use in this area, has it passed bio compatibility tests, and is there safety data?