3M Particulate Respirator 8612F Box of 2 masks per box (2 boxes) For Use by the General Public in Public Health Medical Emergencies. These are the particulate respirators cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use by the general public in case of a public health medical emergency, such as an influenza pandemic, to help reduce wearer exposures to airborne germs. Surgical facemasks are not designed to prevent the wearer from inhaling particles.They are not necessarily designed to seal to the face, so there is the potential for germs in the air to leak around the edges. Even those masks that appear similar to NIOSH-approved respirators have not been designed to protect the wearer from airborne hazards; therefore they should not be considered an equivalent substitute to government approved respirators. Although some masks may look similar, unless the respirator is marked with the word “NIOSH” and a filtration rating such as N95, it should not be assumed to help reduce exposure to airborne particles, including those containing germs.