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The Evolution of the Face Mask
All over the globe, wearing a face mask is becoming part of everyday life as we navigate our way through the COVID-19 pandemic, and masks have become one of the biggest selling products of 2020. But just where did the concept come from? Here we take a look at the history behind the face mask. Ancient Beginnings The first recording of humans wearing face masks dates back to as early as the 6th century BC, with images unearthed that show people wearing face masks on Persian tombs. Following this, it has been reported that servants to Marco Polo were required to wear a cloth covering over their nose and mouth while serving the emperor during his visit to China in the 13th century, so as not to offend him with the smell of their breath. Masks were first seen as a form of protection against disease in the 14th century when the Black Death entered Europe and following this in the 16th century, a ‘Beak Mask’ was designed and used to filter out infection. The 16th century also saw Leonardo Da Vinci introduce the method of soaking a cloth in water and placing it across the face. This was to protect against infectious pathogens infiltrating through from others respiratory systems – a method which is still used to this day in situations such as escaping from building fires. An Evolving Concept The first scientific breakthrough was in the 19th century when Scottish scientist Robert Brown proved the theory of “Brownian motion,” whereby face masks provided effective protection against dust. This then spurred the creation of masks for sectors such as mining and for medical use. A French doctor who created a six-layer mask initially hung this to the collar of a surgical coat and over time this evolved into a standalone entity on strings, birthing the development of face masks secured with tie straps around the face. Masks moved into more generic uses during the influenza outbreak of 1918-1919, where it was common to see police officers and even members of the public equipped with a face mask during their day to day lives. As the use of facial protection continued to rise, manufacturers became more advanced in their understanding of the materials which could be used to provide barriers to infection. Modern Day In recent years the use of melt-blown in face masks has meant that masks and respirators are more effective than ever before. Melt-blown is a mesh of lightweight plastic fibres which are incorporated into the central layers of a mask to provide additional resistance to the infiltration of infectious pathogens, whilst still allowing the user to breathe freely. Face coverings are now increasingly becoming mandatory across all different establishments worldwide in direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, from public transport to shops and some workplaces. While it is understood that fabric coverings provide some protection from the infiltration of infectious agents to those around the wearer, it is far more effective to wear a medical mask such as a Type IIR face mask or FFP2 respirator which contain melt-blown material. All of the Allied PPE Type IIR face masks and FFP2 respirators contain melt-blown to provide the highest levels of protection. What’s more, they are all CE certified and independently tested to provide the user with the confidence that they are qualified for use in Europe. Whether you are looking for facial protection for yourself, those around you or your employees, we can help. We can provide anything from a single box to millions of units of our products at competitive prices with immediate delivery anywhere in the UK. Talk to us today about your requirements – call 0141 959 9999 or enquire online today!

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