Face masks are loose-fitting masks that cover the nose and mouth and have ear ties at the back of the head whereas respirators are tight-fitting face covering devices which filter the air during inhalation and exhalation. Guidelines issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding proper design, filtration process and wearing should be followed. The mask equipment provides protection against the infections caused by particulate matters (PM), especially PM2.5, and biological pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. Although face masks offer benefits to a greater extent, it is not recommended to wear them for a long period of time. As N95 masks closely fit with the face, it may result in negative impact on respiratory and dermal mechanisms of human thermoregulation. In this article, currently available face masks including cloth masks, their filtration mechanisms, manufacturing methods and decontamination methods are reviewed for the purpose of helping with the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

面罩是覆盖鼻子和嘴巴并在头部后部系有耳带的宽松式面罩，而呼吸器是紧密配合的面罩装置，可在吸入和呼出时过滤空气。应遵循美国疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）发布的有关正确设计，过滤过程和磨损的指南。口罩设备可防止颗粒物（PM）（尤其是PM2.5）和生物病原体（例如细菌和病毒）引起的感染。尽管面罩在更大程度上提供了好处，但建议不要长时间佩戴它们。由于N95面罩与面部紧密贴合，可能会对人体温度调节的呼吸和皮肤机制产生负面影响。在这篇文章中，