The ANSES health agency has not identified any health risk for the Dim brand masks, which had been distributed to teachers and accused of being treated with toxic products, "
in the event that the precautions for 'employment would be strictly observed
'.
Read also: Covid-19: Has the National Education provided toxic masks to teachers?
But "
in the actual conditions of wearing
" of these Sun masks, "
any health risk cannot be excluded
", she notes in a mixed opinion issued on Wednesday.
"
As long as the treated mask is worn without prior washing or is not changed as soon as it is wet, ANSES considers on the other hand that any health risk cannot be ruled out
".
The health agency recalls that it "
was seized urgently
" to estimate the potential risks of these washable fabric masks treated with two antimicrobial active substances, silver zeolite and silver and copper zeolite.
These biocidal products have been accused of being toxic by the news site Reporterre.
The Ministry of National Education suspended the distribution to teachers of these controversial masks on October 20, pending the results of an expertise.
At the end of its expert appraisal, ANSES "
ruled out the potential for immediate and serious harmful effects on human health, a finding that was confirmed by the lack of reporting to poison control and toxicovigilance centers of proven adverse wearing these masks
”.
For the medium-term risks, it concludes that "
in the event that the precautions for use are scrupulously respected, the wearing of these masks does not present any harmful effect on human health, in particular toxicity for reproduction
".
“
These precautions include washing before first use and after each use, wearing for a maximum of 4 hours and replacing masks as soon as they are wet,
” she says.
However, given the situations that exist in everyday life, such as the wearing of masks without or wet washing, and "
scenarios + worst case +
", the health agency considers that the medium-term toxicological effects such as "
the accumulation of Ag + silver ions in the organs can result from these exposures
”and that“
health risks cannot therefore be completely ruled out
”.
It notes that chemical treatment with biocidal substances is not a technical requirement required for fabric masks and that, moreover, manufacturers are not required to mention these treatments on the labels.
Read also: Masks: a new certification to identify "the most comfortable and efficient"
The use of antimicrobial treatments, in particular in everyday consumer products, needs to be better supervised, she continues, indicating that the implementation of the Biocidal Regulation contributes to this.
Finally, ANSES recommends speeding up the evaluation of active substances at European level so that the treated articles contain only those which are approved and suitable for the product.
