Basically, surgical masks are rubbish, FFP 1 2 and 3 all offer significant protection, increasing in efficacy as you would expect (3 offering more than 2 offering more than 1).
From the conclusion:
In principle, surgical masks provide adequate protection against large droplets, splashes and contact transmission. There is a common misperception that they will provide protection against aerosols. This study did not assess the protective capacity of surgical masks against large droplets, splashes and contact but rather focussed on their performance against a respiratory aerosol challenge. The results of this study confirm that surgical masks provide the lowest level of respiratory protection compared to FFP respirators.
So if you're really keen there is a whole branch of infection control research that deals with the first version of the title.
The second version of the title is the TL/DR, or the "I'm eating my dinner, I'd rather not, just tell me what to do..."
"The feces and vomit of infected people can contain high concentrations of pathogens, many of which are known to survive on surfaces for weeks or months, and toilets may continue to produce contaminated toilet plumes over multiple successive flushes."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet_plume
Unfortunately, I have personal experience with this situation, so I know its not some abstract thing. Here is what happens. Extreme weather causes flooding and inundation of housing with water, which often is not removed in time to prevent mold growth.
Mold when it grows in conditions of very high humidity, basically produces tens or even hundreds of thousands of what are called "mycotoxins" - According to Dr. David Straus, a scientist at Texas Tech University in Lubbock Texas who is a leading authority on mycotoxins, the total number of mycotoxins is baically unknowable because not only are a great many species of fungi yet to be discovered, also the fungi produce different toxins under different conditions. In his words "We discover new ones all of the time".
nearly all "anti-biotics" are derived from fungal toxins. Fungi are more closely related to animals than plants, and they produce these chemicals to kill one another, so oftentimes they turn out to in some way be dangerous to us. Fungi reproduce by means of spores, and viable spores can produce fungal disease by germinating and growing in people, animals, etc, producing invasive fungal illnesses (many of which can be fatal) however, spores are just part of the picture with mold. Fragments of mold are often highly inflammatory and can produce an immune system overload. Also, the body, lungs, etc. need to produce macrophage cells to defend against mold and it seems obvious to me that high level exposure to mold is in many ways cumulative in a number of ways.
The most obvious is that it causes a mold hypersensitivity to develop.. It can also cause cross sensitivity with other substances many of which are common in American homes and businesses.
Its clear that massive exposures to mold cause the body to become hypersensitive to it, leading to a situation where people can no longer be exposed to even small amounts without triggering a large number of problems.
Also, mold toxins produced in a building by hidden mold, especially, become problematic, as they permeate every nook and cranny, and eventually, end up coating everything with a toxic film.
Hidden mold (mold from a past infestation that was never cleaned out) causes a great many illness, and these problems often continue to make people ill in environments leading to what are called sick buildings".
Some buildings become so permeated that they must literally be torn down to the studs, the studs mush be blasted with sand or dry ice to r
... keep reading on reddit ➡The funeral director was asking us what we think Mum should wear in her casket.
Mum always loved to wear sarongs (fabric wraps that go around the torso and drape downward a bit like a long skirt would), so my uncle suggested that she wear a sarong in there.
The funeral director looked a bit confused, as did some of our family members, to which my uncle added:
"What's sarong with that?"
I started laughing like an idiot. He was proud of it too. The funeral director was rather shocked. We assured her, and our more proper relatives, that Mum would've absolutely loved the joke (which is very true).
His delivery was perfect. I'll never forget the risk he took. We sometimes recall the moment as a way help cushion the blows of the grieving process.
--Edit-- I appreciate the condolences. I'm doing well and the worst is behind me and my family. But thanks :)
--Edit-- Massive thanks for all the awards and kind words. And the puns! Love 'em.
I would have a daughter
But Bill kept the Windows
True story; it even happened last night. My 5-year-old son walks up behind me and out of the blue says, "hey."
I turn to him and say, "yeah, kiddo? What's up?"
He responds, "it's dead grass."
I'm really confused and trying to figure out what's wrong and what he wants from me. "What? There's dead grass? What's wrong with that?"
.
.
.
He says, totally straight-faced, "hay is dead grass," and runs off.
And then you will all be sorry.
Now it’s syncing.
He replied, "Well, stop going to those places then!"
She said how do you know he was headed to work?
I will find you. You have my Word.
