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Why N95 masks are hard to make

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Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#351

Post by javagram »

DoingIsLearning wrote: post #268
chuckledog wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is quite is quite a bit of information readily available about sterilizing disposable N95 masks with UV-C light. While not nearly as good as a fresh mask, this might be a preferable alternative to reusing the same mask unsterilized. https://www.ajicjournal.org/article/S0196-6553(18)30140-8/pd... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699414/ https://www.peakprosperity.com/forum-topic/can-uv-light-disi...…

Could the wavelength and power of these bulbs be used to sterilize daily objects used in public transport like mobile phones/wallets? Is there any guidance regarding duration of UVC radiation exposure and sterilization?

There is a commercial product called Phone Soap (sold out now) that uses UV light to sterilize phones, keys, etc. you put the item inside it and I believe the UV light shines on it for 10 minutes which according to the manufacturer sterilizes it.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#352

Post by jbn »

ry4nolson wrote: post #308
kittiepryde wrote: post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The higher tax bracket, only taxes the money that falls into that bracket, they will still have higher after tax incomes.

It amazes me how many people don't grasp this.

You are so right, it's incredible how many people don't grasp this. Further, people in lower brackets think that the tax rate in higher brackets is unfair because it applies to the whole income (rather than just that bracket).

I guess a piecewise affine function is just too complicated...

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#353

Post by chuckledog »

javagram wrote: post #351
DoingIsLearning wrote: post #268

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could the wavelength and power of these bulbs be used to sterilize daily objects used in public transport like mobile phones/wallets? Is there any guidance regarding duration of UVC radiation exposure and sterilization?

There is a commercial product called Phone Soap (sold out now) that uses UV light to sterilize phones, keys, etc. you put the item inside it and I believe the UV light shines on it for 10 minutes which according to the manufacturer sterilizes it.

Yes and there is another commercial product that uses UV-C light to sterilize baby pacifiers:

https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Portable-Sterilizer-Viruses-...

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#354

Post by watwut »

bitL wrote: post #231
watwut wrote: post #211

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the effectiveness of its protective effect is reduced. How did you jumped from "reduced" to "completely useless". > Are you really going to change your surgical mask every 3 minutes to make it effective against getting infected? My typical situation is not surgical situation.

You obviously don't get it how a virus survives outside body. It survives because it is inside a wet biological droplet; breathing through a surgical mask would make the area around intake wet with some human cells, making it a wonderful spot for survival of viruses; it basically makes it a prime collector surface. The mask itself is permeable and whatever viruses are collected on the outer layer thrive there unless…

Aaaaand there is adjacent recommendation to boil them.

Aaaand you wear them also to not make sick others by spreading your virus as far as you breathe.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#355

Post by stubish »

Dahoon wrote: post #291
stubish wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Only 600,000 of those are N95 standard, suitable for health care and using the special fabric in short supply. Mask wear in Asia is common, for smog, smoke and controlling flu. The cheap ones don't last long, and often replaced instead of put through the wash. Common mask usage requires use of cheaper, more comfortable masks rather than the health care certified ones.

>Mask wear in Asia is common, for smog, smoke and controlling flu The normal is wearing them to protect others, not yourself.

Where I was in Asia it was one of the reasons, because you don't want to suffer the glares of people if they catch you sneezing without a mask. But people also wear them to protect themselves, from flu on the trains and smog when on the streets. And the other reason is for a bit of privacy, which appeals to young women in particular.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#356

Post by thu2111 »

jpindar wrote: post #349
thu2111 wrote: post #280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tariffs. The US has already started!

They've put tariffs on raw materials and sub-assemblies, which is making it less economical to manufacture things in the US.

Interesting. I wonder what the logic is; usually tariffs are chosen based on trade volumes with the targeted country. Maybe there's a sense that mining or other raw materials businesses need more help than firms higher up the value chain.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#357

Post by eru »

_2d30 wrote: post #13

I do believe these masks are also made in the US, but this situation highlights exactly why a country having its own major manufacturing base is not just an economic need but rather also a national security need. The US needs to invest in itself immediately to rebuild its lost manufacturing base. In economic terms, under certain definitions and assumptions that are typical under modern economics, a trade war such as…

> I do believe these masks are also made in the US, but this situation highlights exactly why a country having its own major manufacturing base is not just an economic need but rather also a national security need.

I might take your argument for the security need. But how does this highlight anything about an economic need? (Or am I misreading that?)

> In economic terms, under certain definitions and assumptions that are typical under modern economics, a trade war such as the current US-China trade war result in welfare losses. I believe, however, that when national security is taken into account (ie having the ability for the country to rapidly respond to productive capacity needs in a time of crisis), the trade war along with serious investment in expanding industrial capacity is likely net good.

Perhaps an optimally waged trade war might be? Not sure. But in practice, politicians use these highly theoretical arguments that might apply in very special cases to defend very crude behaviour.

Eg if you want to justify a trade war on national security grounds, your goal would presumably to weaken the other party?

One of the demands in Trump's trade war was that China open its markets more to American goods and services, and lower tariffs and restrictions on foreign commerce in general. That would only strengthen the Chinese economy, for all the orthodox reasons.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#358

Post by downerending »

echelon wrote: post #46
_2d30 wrote: post #13

I do believe these masks are also made in the US, but this situation highlights exactly why a country having its own major manufacturing base is not just an economic need but rather also a national security need. The US needs to invest in itself immediately to rebuild its lost manufacturing base. In economic terms, under certain definitions and assumptions that are typical under modern economics, a trade war such as…

All the workers being replaced by automation and having to rely on "gig economy" work could pursue manufacturing instead. We have the workforce. We can pay workers livable wages and give them meaningful work. Cost of goods could be reduced through greater efficiency. Research into robotics and automation could fuel a new decade of American growth.

I'm not sure that we do have the workforce. The generation of workers I remember from childhood had a large array of skills crucial in manufacturing that are now withering or have disappeared entirely.

The people that are maintaining those skills and learning the new skills needed are increasingly elsewhere.

Re: Why N95 masks are hard to make

#360

Post by jennyyang »

dillondoyle wrote: post #185
jennyyang wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We actually bought 2 UVC light bulbs just to sterilize my masks. We only have a handful, and believed early on that UVC could make them reusable, but have no proof. But using them is very hard. They produce ozone which is harmful to your lungs, and the light themselves are harmful to your eyes and skin. So I don't have a safe way to set this up yet. Now that we are all quarantined maybe we can have more time to figur…

I put mine on my back entrance which is basically open air. Close door with cord under it. Able to plug it in without being able to see it and ozone spews out to pollute my city even more.. Do you know how long of an exposure is needed to be effective? assuming within 2-3 feet but single source not even light

30 mins at 8 feet distance. 10 seconds if within an inch from what I remember.
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