The next N95? In a corner of 3M’s respirator lab in Maplewood, a pile of prototype N95s were awaiting their turn in the fit-testing chamber.

Thousands of consumers are getting about $150 each after buying face masks falsely advertised as N95 or equivalent.

Social media never fails to find humor in challenging situations, like a viral video of a dog wearing a mask before a walk in wildfire-stricken Southern California.

From a CDC and NIOSH-approved N95 mask to an industrial-grade respirator, here are the best face masks to protect yourself from smoke and smog.

One of the best masks should already be familiar to you from the pandemic: an N95 mask. These are particulate respirators recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies.

The mask market is also riddled with fakes, so consult the CDC’s guide to spotting them if you’re not sure about the authenticity of your N95. The CDC has a list of NIOSH-approved respirators.

As COVID cases surge in North Carolina, a Charlotte group is distributing free N95 masks for those who want to protect themselves against the virus. CLT Mask Bloc, a nonprofit organization ...

The study found that wearing an N95 respirator resulted in the highest reduction in exhaled viral load at an average 98 percent decrease, significantly outperforming all other masks and respirators.

The agreement was for the company to deliver five million N95 respirator masks by May 1, and half of the contract — roughly $7.5 million — was prepaid to help expedite the badly-needed ...