DCHAS-L Archives, Jun 05 2020 - Re: [DCHAS-L] cloth face masks

Just to be more clear about the "cotton" I was talking about as fire retarded and other fabrics we use that are inherently FR they include:

FR cotton *

Aramids - para and meta
Carbon foam (CFOAM)

PBI (Polybenzimidazole)
Polyhydroquinone - dimidazopyridine
Melamine
Modacrylic

* Inherently flame resistant fabrics, like modacrylic cotton =E2=80" FRMC =AE, are made using fibers that are innately flame resistant =E2=80" and the flame resistant properties cannot be degraded through use or laundering. FRMC fabrics are made from fibers with an FR polymer base that are not flammable. Hence, these fabrics are flame resistant from the start and do not go through a treatment process to become flame resistant.

All of these are of fibers that are not treated because they are inherently FR. Even most Denim will qualify if the weave is tight enough. And many articles of clothing by law are FR. So there are many fabrics you can use for masks which you don't need to have treated.

Monona

-----Original Message-----
From: Monona Rossol <actsnyc**At_Symbol_Here**cs.com>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Sent: Thu, Jun 4, 2020 7:32 pm
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] cloth face masks

I would rather people were in real respirators, too.

But where did you chemists get the idea that if the fabric is flame retardant it is treated with chemicals. Read the standards. There are many fabrics that are inherently fire retardant. Cotton, wool a number of fabrics will self extinguish when the NFPA 705 flame propagation test is used. I deal with theater curtains and every one I deal with knows that.

Monona

-----Original Message-----
From: Wright, Mike <mwright**At_Symbol_Here**USW.ORG>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Sent: Thu, Jun 4, 2020 5:45 pm
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] cloth face masks

We=E2=80™ve looked at this for workers doing hot work - welding, flame cutting, etc. We don't want people in flammable masks, but we don't want them in FR masks either. Flame retardant fabrics are chemically treated. Some of those chemicals are toxic; none of them have been sufficiently characterized. Flame resistant fabrics are made from fibers that are inherently resistant to combustion, but they tend to be woven very tightly, so inhaled and exhaled breath doesn't go through the mask, but around it, pretty much defeating the purpose.

I agree with Zack. Wear the PPE appropriate to the job. Other than that, distance works better than any cloth mask. And don't stop at 6 feet. If you can achieve more, do it.

Michael J. Wright

Director of Health, Safety and Environment

United Steelworkers

412-562-2580 office

412-370-0105 cell

"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world."

Jack Layton

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU] On Behalf Of Zack Mansdorf
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2020 3:07 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] cloth face masks

This has become an incredible circular discussion that I believe will be never ending.

If you are doing lab work that requires a respirator, use the correct respirator. If you are doing lab work that does not require a respirator (e.g., in a hood), then use common sense. If a face covering is more of a risk than not wearing a face covering (e.g., flammability, corrosivity, vision, etc.) than do not use a face covering and just maintain a 6 foot separation from other persons. If you cannot and the face covering will not work, use a face shield. Before my colleague and friend, Monna, admonishes me--..if you have access to an N-95 or better, use that. It has become pretty clear that the vast majority of cases are from person to person contact and the likelihood of a younger person suffering severe consequences is very small. Consider the overall risk of wearing a face covering versus not wearing a face covering given the lab work. I do not think there is a universal solution for all circumstances nor a universal material that can be used in all circumstances.

That's my non-CDC sanctioned opinion.

Zack

S.Z. Mansdorf, PhD, CIH, CSP, QEP

Consultant in EHS and Sustainability

7184 Via Palomar

Boca Raton, FL 33433

561-212-7288

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU> On Behalf Of Patricia Redden
Sent: Thursday, June 4, 2020 2:13 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] cloth face masks

CDC is recommending the use of cloth face mask in academic institutions, but the question is what is the best fabric for them. Lab coats in academic labs are supposed to be chemical- and fire-resistant. Does this apply to face masks as well? If so, is there a source for them?

Patricia Redden, Ph.D.

Professor, Chemistry Department

Fellow, American Chemical Society

Fellow, ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety

SAINT PETER'S UNIVERSITY

The Jesuit University of New Jersey

2641 John F. Kennedy Boulevard

Jersey City, New Jersey 07306

p: (201)761-6440

f: (201)761-6431

www.saintpeters.edu

Named #1 in the nation for transformation in 2018 by the American Council on Education/Fidelity Investments

--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional membership chair at membership**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas

About This Archive \|	DCHAS-L 2020 Index \|	DCHAS-L Yearly Index
Search All Posts: Advanced Search Disclaimer