Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.5668/JEHS.2019.45.2.134

Characteristics of Health Masks Certified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety  

Ham, Seunghon (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine)
Choi, Won-Jun (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine)
Lee, Wanhyung (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine)
Kang, Seong-Kyu (Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine)
Publication Information
Journal of Environmental Health Sciences / v.45, no.2, 2019 , pp. 134-141 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objectives: The study aimed to investigate the characteristics of health masks and to suggest the proper selection and use of protecting the respiratory system from particulate matters. Methods: The National Standard of masks promulgated by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) were reviewed. The raw data of certified health masks were obtained from the MFDS database. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results: Overall, 543 masks were certified by MFDS as of March 2019. Numbers of certified masks as KF80 (Korea Filter), KF94 and KF99 were 257 (47.3%), 281 (51.8%), and 5 (0.9%), respectively. Names of health masks, which were yellow sand, communicable diseases, health or its combination, were diverse that made customers be confused in selection. Health masks were also classified by particulate size, however, detailed information was not available. Conclusions: We investigated the status of health mask certification in Korea. Appropriate information on KF grade of health masks is required for customers to use them properly. MFDS should update the certification system of health masks periodically.
Keywords
Health mask; National standard; KF (Korea Filter); Particulate matter;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Jung, H., Kim, J., Lee, S., Lee, J., Kim, J., Yoon, C. et al. Comparison of filtration efficiency and pressure drop in anti-yellow sand masks, quarantine masks, medical masks, general masks, and handkerchiefs. Aerosol Air Qual Res, 2014; 14(14): 991-1002.   DOI
2 KCA, Survey of safety for mask, Korea Consumer Agency. Available: http://www.kca.go.kr/brd/m_46/view.do?seq=2236&itm_seq_1=3 [accessed 20 March 2019].
3 MFDS, Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. 2019.
4 Kim SK, Healthcare workers infected with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus and infection control. J Korean Med Assoc. 2015; 58(7): 647-654.   DOI
5 MOE, Particulate matter Act, Ministry of Environment, 2018.
6 Bae HJ, Effects of Short-term Exposure to $PM_{10}$ and $PM_{2.5}$ on Mortality in Seoul. J Environ Health Sci. 2014; 40(5): 346-354.
7 Han DH, Protection against Aerosols by Particulate Respirators and Fit Performance. J Environ Health Sci. 2001; 27(2): 30-36.
8 Han DH, Are Particulate Filtering Respirators Available in Korea Efficient for Nanoparticles?. J Korean Soc Occup Environ Hyg 2011; 21(1): 62-71.
9 Grinshpun SA. Impact of Facial Leakage on Respirator Efficiency: Recent Developments. Handbook of Respiratory Protection: Safeguarding Against Current and Emerging Hazards. Routledge, 2017.
10 Seo HK, Kim JI, Yoon JS, Shin DH, Kim HW, Analysis of 3D Facial dimensions and Pulmonary Capacity of Korean Children for Designing of Children's Dust Masks. J Korea Soc. Occ. Env. Hyg. 2017; 27(4): 269-282.   DOI
11 MOEL, Occupational Safety and Health Act, Ministry of Employment and Labor. 2019.
12 U.S.FDA, Masks and N95 Respirators. 2019 Available: https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/products andmedicalprocedures/generalhospitaldevicesandsupplies/personalprotectiveequipment/ucm055977.htm [accessed 20 March 2019].
13 Rengasamy S, Eimer BC, Shaffer RE, Comparison of Nanoparticle Filtration Performance of NIOSHapproved and CE-Marked Particulate Filtering Facepiece Respirators. Annals of Occ. Hyg. 2009; 53(2):117-128.   DOI
14 MFDS, Report. 2018 Available: https://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/productsandmedicalprocedures/generalhospitaldevicesandsupplies/personalprotectiveequipment/ucm055977.htm [accessed 20 March 2019].
15 Rosenlund M, Berglind N, Pershagen G, Hallqvist J, Jonson T, Bellander T. Long-term exposure to urban air pollution and myocardial infarction. Epidemiology. 2006; 17: 383-390.   DOI
16 Ayres JG, Review of the UK Air Quality Index A report by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants. Available: https://assets.publishing. service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/ attachment_data/file/304633/COMEAP_review_of_ the_uk_air_quality_index.pdf [accessed 20 March 2019].
17 IARC, monograph 109. International Agency for Research on Cancer. 2016.
18 Straif K, Cohen A, Samet J, Air pollution and cancer (IARC Scientific Publication No. 161). International Agency for Research on Cancer. 2013; Available: http://www.iarc.fr/en/publications/books/sp161 [accessed 20 March 2019].
19 Dominici F, Peng RD, Bell ML, Pham L, McDermott A, Zeger SL et al. Fine particulate air pollution and hospital admission for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Jama. 2006; 295(10):1127-1134.   DOI
20 Liang WM, Wei HY, Kuo HW. Association between daily mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and air pollution in Taiwan. Environmental research, 2009;109(1): 51-58.   DOI
21 Stieb DM, Szyszkowicz M, Rowe BH, Leech JA. Air pollution and emergency department visits for cardiac and respiratory conditions: a multi-city time-series analysis. Environ Health. 2009; 8: 25-38.   DOI
22 Strickland MJ, Darrow LA, Klein M, Flanders WD, Sarnat JA, Waller LA et al. Short-term associations between ambient air pollutants and pediatric asthma emergency department visits. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010; 182(3): 307-316.   DOI
23 NIOSH, Hierarchy of controls. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Available: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hierarchy/default.html [accessed 20 March 2019]
24 Jang JY, Kim SW, Evaluation of Filtration Performance Efficiency of Commercial Cloth Masks. J Environ Health Sci. 2015; 41(3): 203-221