The purpose of the disposable mask is not to filter the air, but to create a physical barrier between the mucous membranes and any potential contamination. They protect against larger particles, more than 1 micrometer in diameter However, they are an effective barrier to aerosols in which viruses may be present. As for the degree of filtration, the standards of such masks are defined by the European standard EN 14683, according to which we divide surgical masks into three types: type I (filtration efficiency ≥ 95), type II (filtration efficiency ≥ 98) and type IIR (filtration efficiency ≥ 98) .
