EcoWaste warns vs non-FDA approved face masks

MANILA, Philippines — An environment and health watchdog on Tuesday expressed concern over the proliferation of masks that are not registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), saying these pose a danger to human health and can aggravate the country’s plastic and medical waste problem.

EcoWaste Coalition said these masks might be detrimental to health workers and even the public, as these products claim to be medical grade.

“We are concerned that the above products may not be compliant to essential quality and safety requirements, particularly on filtration efficiency, and may not offer adequate defense against COVID-19 infection if not combined with other protective measures,” Thony Dizon, the group’s chemical safety campaigner, wrote to FDA.

—Jhesset O. Enano