Silica is a natural crystal and the main component of sand. However it is also a compound derived from granite, sandstone, glass, hard coal, gold and lead. The threat of contracting the disease is therefore higher among population of workers that either work with or mine those materials.

After the silica particles have been breathed in through normal respiration via the nose or mouth, they rest in the very small airways of the lungs (or ‘bronchi’) and form large areas of fibrous tissue due to the immune cells in the body (known as ‘macrophages’) being poisoned by the silica particles. This causes inflammation of the lung tissue for which there is no cure yet unfortunately.

Early symptoms of silicosis include shortness of breath and fever. The build up of tissue in the lungs results in a lack of Oxygen being processed by the organ and in turn results in shortness of breath. In the most serious cases of Silicosis, people have trouble with breathing and coughing fits are common. This in turn can then lead to pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Though Silicosis can have serious affects on a patient’s health, the disease can easily be prevented. In recent years cases have declined due to improved working practices for employees working with the problem materials. For example face masks are now standard equipment for miners exposed to silica particles and precautions should always be made to prevent the very real threat of Silicosis.

Baxter, MN (PRWEB) February 28, 2010 — Breathe Safely, LLC is now working with two out of three of the largest international manufacturers of respirators worldwide. The two major respirator manufacturers are learning exactly what our product does and how it can drastically change respirator effectiveness and decrease user error dramatically.

Read the full press release here

Download the New Press Release

When someone is in contact with dangerous particles in the air, whether it’s from silica in building materials or swine flu and other airborne diseases in hospitals, it is wise to wear a mask to protect contracting an illness.

Masks for the workplace come in a variety of shapes and guises with varying levels of protection and are often for different uses. Two main types of masks are known as ‘flat masks’ and ‘N95’ specification masks. What is the difference between the two and which is more effective? Let’s break it down for more detail.

Typical Flat Mask

A flat mask is usually used in the building trade and suitable for typical building conditions. These masks are useful to protect the wearer against brick dust, concrete and plaster, sanding of wood and MDF, masonry and metal work and loft insulations. The range of protection can vary between particles larger than 5 microns (dust, fumes, oil-based mists), particles between 2 and 5 microns (fine dust, fibres and aqueous mist) and particles less than 2 microns (very fine dust, small fibres and mists). They conform to EN149:2001 standards.

Typical N95 Mask

A typical N95 mask is more effective than a standard flat mask when confronted with very small particles. In fact N95 masks are 95% efficient in filtering particles of only 0.3 microns in size. While these masks can be used in any situation where there is an airborne threat, they are usually found in the medical profession due to their success at filtering bacteria and micro-organisms.
The N95 mask is worn especially by surgeons during laser eye surgery and meet the CDC specifications for bacteria control. This type of mask was also popular during the Swine Flu pandemic of 2008/2009.
Overall the N95 is ever-so-slightly more efficient than a standard flat mask, so they are the better of the two as they provide most protection, however they are also more costly. It really depends on the wearers needs as to the level of protection they require.

The Solution: A Respirator or Mask/Seal Combination

The best option is using a mask/respirator with a seal: The Next Generation of Respiratory Protection. If you have a respirator that is rated to protect up to 2mm microns, that’s great, but it does no good if your respirator is not sealed to your face. The bacteria will get filtered IF the bacteria passes through the respirator, not around it. This is currently a major problem facing the respirator industry and many industry leaders and manufacturers are choosing not to address the problem. Breathe Safely, LLC has not only addressed the problem, we fixed the problem. For extra protection we have added a seal within a seal and sealed bridges so that absolutely nothing gets around the respirator and everything is forced to pass through the filtration material on the respirator.

There are dangers that come from working with various types of wood that may not seem very obvious at first. In particular, ‘MDF’ or ‘Medium Density Fibreboard’, is a huge problem. Besides MDF there are many, many different types of wood that can cause long term as well as short term damage to a person.

Medium Density Fibreboard is made from a large number of small wood fibres which are first glued together under a high heat and pressurized. There is a concern with the resin that is used to make MDF, called ‘Urea formaldehyde’ and in some cases stronger glue is used such as ‘Phenol formaldehyde’.

During the entire life of MDF, these resins can leak from the surface of the board if the wood is not sealed and the problem is further enhanced when MDF is cut with tools. From these actions, very small particles of formaldehyde are sent into the air and inhaled via the respiratory system through the nose or mouth.

By breathing formaldehyde into the lungs, it can result in irritation of the eyes, lungs, skin and nose which may irritate or cause rhinitis, asthma or dermatitis. Additionally there is increasing evidence of formaldehyde being linked with certain types of cancer

To minimize the risk from MDF, it is ideal that once construction of the wood has finished, a sealant is used on the surface. Finishing oils work to some extent however paint is more effective. Face masks while working with MDF is highly recommended as it bars the wood dust and particles from entering your body.

From the CDC - Niosh

chronic form, which is the most frequent type, can leave you out of breath. Besides that one side effect, you could have this without knowing for ten to twenty years after the exposure. Once the disease reveals itself the symptoms are slow to progress yet relentless.

There is a less common type, acute silicosis. The acute form can develop within three to five years after the exposure to large amounts of dust usually in smaller spaces.

With more cases found all of the time, this lung condition has no medical treatment. Prevention is the key. Once the condition or disease begins progressing it continues even long after the person has removed themselves from exposure. If you are around dust on a frequent basis be sure to use a respirator with a seal for the best protection.

• Since 1968, over 14,000 U.S. workers have died from a disease called silicosis.
• More than 200 U.S. workers die with this disease while hundreds more become disabled each year.
• It doesn’t matter what age you are. Many with silicosis are only in their thirties; some are as young as 22 years old and many are unable to take care of themselves and their families.

Are YOU breathing silica dust?

If YOU do one of the following jobs, you ARE at risk for breathing silica dust:

• Removal of paint and rust with powertools
• Abrasive blasting of bridges, pipes, tanks, and other painted surfaces especially while using silica sand
• Grinding mortar
• Abrasive blasting of concrete (many bridges and buildings are made of concrete)
• Crushing, loading, hauling, chipping, hammering, drilling, and dumping of rock or concrete
• Chipping, hammering, drilling, sawing, and grinding concrete or masonry
• Demolition of concrete and masonry structures;
• Dry sweeping or pressurized air-blowing of concrete or dust; or
• Jackhammering on various materials.

Who is at Risk?

Workers in the following occupations are at risk for developing silicosis: Highway and bridge construction and repair, Building construction, demolition, and repair, abrasive blasting, masonry work, concrete finishing, drywall finishing, rock drilling, mining, sand and gravel screening, rock crushing (for road base)

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-108/

Silicosis: Learn the Facts!

Hometown America protecting itself from the swine flue (H1N1) and other airborn viruses. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) both recommend the use of a respirator mask that is NIOSH rated N95 or higher be worn as minimum protection for protection against swine flu (H1N1). The Institue of Medicine states if using a respirator use an airtight seal.

BreatheSafely.com sells universal respirator and mask seal in adult and children sizes and a mask and seal combination for adults and children. The SecureGaurd Procedure mask for adult and children come in a ten pack with the seal.

The Secure Gaurd mask is made by Cardinal Health and the respirator/mask seal is made exclusively by Breathe Safely, LLC. When using the seal you can rest assured no harmful viruses are getting through the mask. Leakage is a nonfactor with using a Breathe Safely seal. The seal is universal. It works on N95 respirators, 3M brands, masks, surgical/procedure masks, and many more. For the highest level of protection agains the swine flu and bird flu using a Breathe Safely seal adds almost 300% protection on average.

If you wear a respirator you are looking for the most protection available. This is it. Buy a seal or a mask/seal combo for you and your children, before it is too late. In reference to the mandate from the CDC regarding protection against the potential bird flu or swine flu (H1N1) pandemic, the breathe safely seal in addition to a mask is the new preference as a first line of defense.

Let’s face it, a nose piece and loops are not an adequate method for sealing a respirator to a face. If there is any leakage the purpose of wearing such a device is defeated. Using a universal seal is quick, cost effective, and easy. The seal will stop all leakage. Everything must then pass through the filtration material of the mask, as it is intended to do.

Universal Seal – Features and Benefits:

BSAF Fit tests shows our universal respirator and mask seal provides
* 270% more protection (versus a standalone mask),
* 70% felt their masks comfort level increased with a seal
* 100% felt better protected
* 100% skin safe

BreatheSafely.com, of central Minnesota has been spreading the word about the importance of adequate protection during our current state. BreatheSafely.com sells masks and seals for adults and children. For a list of compatible respirators see breathesafely.com.

BreatheSafely.com takes Visa, MC, American Express, Discover, and PayPal at www.breathesafely.com and on Amazon.com. The level of local interest has been high, local doctors, nurses, and industry professionals all have great things to say about the seal. Mostly the reaction is that the universal seal is almost too good to be true. On sale now, ten seals (adult or child) for $9.95, or ten masks and ten seals in our medical professional package for $19.95.

The article states an advisory board from the IOM recommends using N95 masks because they often provide a more reliable seal. With a Breathe Safely universal respirator seal your mask will be just as good as an N95 respirator. The seal will work on N95 respirators as well.

In the situation where a N95 respirator and surgical mask are both sealed they both provide enough filtration to stop the influenza virus, 0.3 micrometers and 0.3-0.5 micrometers respectively. The choice of mask or respirator is up to you. For either to work properly you should install a universal respirator seal.

Click here for the rest of the CNN article.

The outcome is that surgical masks, with a seal, are just as effective as N95 respirators. From Medical News Today,

Surgical masks appear to be no worse than, and nearly as effective as N95 respirators in preventing influenza in health care workers, according to a study released early online today by JAMA. The study was posted online ahead of print because of its public health implications. It will be published in the November 4 issue of JAMA.

Influenza is the most important cause of medically attended acute respiratory illness worldwide and the authors write there is heightened concern this year because of the influenza pandemic due to the H1N1 virus. “Data about the effectiveness of the surgical mask compared with the N95 respirator for protecting health care workers against influenza are sparse,” the authors provide as background information in the article. “Given the likelihood that N95 respirators will be in short supply during a pandemic and not available in many countries, knowing the effectiveness of the surgical mask is of public health importance.”

For the rest of the article.

Swine Flu Threat is Severe for Fall of 2009.

The H1N1 vaccine will arrive too late to help most Americans who will be infected during this flu season, according to a study conducted by scholars at Purdue University, The Washington Times reported on Tuesday.

The study also estimates that the virus — commonly referred to as the swine flu bug will infect about 60 percent of the U.S. population, although only about 25 percent of Americans will fall ill.

The model predicts that the peak wave of infection will occur near the end of October in week 42, with 8% of the population being infected during that week. By the end of 2009, the model predicts that a total of 63% of the population will have been infected,

Prepare NOW!! Before it is too late.

Estimates 63% of the total population will be infected by H1N1 this fall! That’s an incredibly high number and it is all supposed to happen very soon. The vaccine has been surrounded with mixed feelings and the supply is dwindling in the US, the replacements are said to arrive too late.  Other preventative measures should be taken. Fox news offers no advice for preventing the spread of this disease, almost as if they have given up hope.

Right now, more than ever, it is important you understand that our method of protection is one of the best. Staying home is the best choice for staying healthy. If you must leave, wear a respirator with a universal seal.  If you depend on a respirator for protection you need to be able to rely on your seal. A respirator does nothing if it leaks.

Our universal respirator seal will add protection. BSAF fit testing showed a Breathe Safely respirator seal increased performance by 270%. That’s a number you can find comfort in. Living in a high saturated area means it is imparitive that everyone who wears a respirator must use a seal. Click here to purchase a ten pack of seals

Global Swine Flu Cases Close to Pandemic Levels or see more Hillary Clinton Videos

Image via Yuan2003

(CNN) – The H1N1 virus has been confirmed in a sample taken from a pig that was displayed at the Minnesota State Fair, the first time the virus has been found in a U.S. pig, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday.

“We have fully engaged our trading partners to remind them that several international organizations, including the World Organization for Animal Health, have advised that there is no scientific basis to restrict trade in pork and pork products,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the statement. “People cannot get this flu from eating pork or pork products. Pork is safe to eat.”

The Department of Agriculture quickly issued a statement saying the food supply is safe.

H1n1, the Avian Flu, and many other variants are a common threat today. If you wear a respirator and rely on it as your only source of protection you NEED to use a respirator seal. Respirator seals provide up to 90% more protection on a standard N95 mask.