Air Pollution Countermeasures
 

My commute involves sucking up diesel exhaust from city buses, garbage trucks and the like :eek: Even if I take the East River MUP, I'm still subjected to car exhaust from the adjacent FDR Drive. I can't change the route, so I'd like to know what everyone is doing in terms of mitigating the damage caused by bad air.

I hold my breath or breathe shallowly. I try to breathe less around the diesel fumes and then make up for it later.

The only thing you can really do, short of wearing a particulate filter, is to make your exertion very light. Your body knows it needs oxygen to burn fuel to feed itself. The more you exert yourself, the deeper and more rapidly you will breathe. You could try holding your breath or conciously breathing more slowly and shallower, but I wouldn't recommend it. With enough oxygen debt (or CO2 build up) your body will realize that you're not doing a very good job of breathing and shut you down to so it can take over.

Even if you don't push yourself to the point of blackout, the O2 debt/CO2 buildup will hamper your performance, diminishing further the return on your exertion.

Move out of the city?

Years ago when I was working in Bangkok I was amazed at how all the traffic cops wore those gas masks and I thought all the people smoking cigarettes were probably better off than anyone just breathing the air... at least the cigarettes had filters...

Going over the 59th Street Bridge is where I get my daily commuting hill climb, it's also the place where I notice the fumes the most. I just try and keep it easy enough and keep my breathing easier and through my natural nasal filtering system... or perhaps I should augment that with some cigarette filters shoved up my nose...

When you are sitting behind a car when stopped try to sit the opposite side of the exhaust pipe. Obvious, I know, but it had to be said.

When I lived in Beijing, I watched the air pollution indices like a hawk -- if the number got too high, I just rode very slowly. I have a Respro pollution filter mask, but don't like wearing it unless the pollution is simply ridiculous (or during sandstorms) -- otherwise, I find it uncomfortable. In Shanghai, I have so far not bothered with any specific anti-pollution measures.

I find the 3M paint spray respirator very comfortable , lightweight, and easy to breathe with it on. I am a spray painter by trade so have to wear one all day. They cost around $45 and if I commuted in a high-pollution area I would most likely want one of these.

Particulate filters will help only part of the time. It is common to have sulfer compounds and nitrogen oxides along with the soot and dust. I saw a listing for a complete human portable air supply system in a police and fire supply catalog yesterday. Face shield, hard hat. hose, filters, fans, smart power system, NiMH batteries, and charger for under $1,200. I would have to get something like that for Charleston, WVa the last time I was there or Keeler, California.

Like meb, I try to keep the pace easy enough that my nasal passages do most of the filtering but as meb points out, the 59th St bridge is a bit of a challenge in that regard, lower Broadway is no treat either. I do opt for the Roosevelt Island Tram on occasion...

What I was wondering about was whether anyone takes any anti-oxidents, oligomeric proanthocynidins or the like.

Here is a news story about pollution exposure during a commute. Interesting how the article is auto centric, but the photo they chose to use is a cyclist wearing a respro mask.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...mmute0301.html

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...ommute0301.jpg

Al

Respro masks

Where to buy in the U.S.?

You know, I think it's actually worse in the winter. Yesterday was just terrible. I didn't notice the smell (and therefore the presence) of exhaust so much in the warmer months. Or am I just remembering incorrectly? (PS: IS there an East River MUP these days? Last time I was there, it was all torn up.)

Yes it's worse in the winter when we have a tendancy to keep warm in the bus exhaust...

The East River MUP starts at 23rd St, right at the Marina gas station by the Waterside apts.. The section from 34th to 23rd is a bit treacherous, they've got you going against the traffic coming off the FDR heading for the tunnel. The parts by Houston are a bit messed up but for the most part it's a decent ride, there are some sections where the bikes are separate from the pedestrians. Or at least the pedestrians who can read.

well, for the cheap way, I guess a michael jackson mask might work, though not be overly effective.

Why do I keep thinking I need a K&N filter, not only is it the worlds best, but it will increase my horsepower and acceleration. Proably keep my engine cleaner too. Just what every urban commuter needs!

Al

I picked up a mask similar to the respro masks at Harbor Freight for $20 (even came with earplugs) to use at work. I tested the mask this weekend while mowing the lawn/using the leaf blower and it worked much better than the dust masks. The respro masks look like they have more ventilation than the one I bought though.

lol...K&N actually let's more stuff through. Why do you think they make and recommend using foam "PreCharger Filter Wraps" for off-road and "dusty conditions" over their filters? It's a trade-off. Increased air flow at the expense of better filtration. It shows up in the oil analysis as increased levels of silicon. If you don't mind the extra wear, then it's an option for a bit more performance. GM issued a TSB concerning reusable aftermarket filters that use oil...seems the oil migrates to the various sensors and gums them up causing various engine management problems...honoring the warranty could come into question if a fouled/gummed up sensor needs to be replaced. Count the number of folds and the height of the folds...and you can see you have even less total area for filtration than a paper filter. That usually translates into more frequent cleaning since the K&N filter will plug up or become more restrictive faster. Of course it all depends on where you live and the the local environmental conditions one faces in their daily drive. Another thing that bothers me about the comparison tests is that the K&N is usually "pre-dirtied" with their own "dirt" to achieve the 97% filtration mark. What's up with that?

One has to decide whether or they can feel the 2 hp increase through their "butt dyno". The cost comes out the same if you buy paper filters or clean and reuse K&N type filters (max 25 times). The cleaning and oiling kit costs about $20.00.

WIX now makes cone paper filters in various sizes and shapes for those that have a "cold air" or FIPK systems installed. Obviously there is a demand and a market for it.

I'd avoid the low-lying areas, seems that the worst pollution on my commute is when I am on the lowest of 7 roadways, and the other 6 are jammed with rush hour traffic. I have decided not to use the MUP for that reason, during those times of day. I pitty the joggers.

Does anyone have a cheap suggetion about how to quantify the noxious gases?

I was told and have read that none of the masks do anything against the real nasty pollution, i.e. diesel fumes. Diesel engines emit ultrafine sub-micron particles that none of the usual countermeasures can keep from getting to your lungs. And those particles are the most dangerous by virtue of size and other characteristics.
Respro and the like are good agains dust, smells and the like.

thread on this just yesterday

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=275119

'lol' makes me assume you saw the google ads for it here.
Why is K&N advertising on BF? I wondered if its some 'bot' that picks up keywords including those in this thread such as 'particles' 'filter' 'car' 'air'.

Al

If I recall correctly - and the journalists summarized the studies correctly - moving to the MUP (or sidewalk if applicable) is great thing to do. The concentration or pollutants of all types drops dramatically in the first few feet. Course the sidewalk's dangers may be worse ...

You're right, it is.

Go to www.gotpollution.com for the respro masks. Make sure you get a large and not a medium. Mediums are supposedly for the female population.

Not really...Never noticed the K&N ads were there. Belong to (too) many car forums and K&N type filters always come up for discussion, esp when the results of one's oil analysis is posted and the op wants to know why there are elevated percentages when compared to others. As I pointed out before using those types of filters is a trade-off...there's no free lunch.

I'd never heard of them before the ads appeared in BF. Would have never considered using them even if I hadn't heard the downside.
Al

The respro mask looks pretty good, but is there any source of replacement filters other than buying official respro filters?

I don't mind paying for the mask, but the filters are way too expensive to be replaced at the recommened monthly interval.

May not look high tech, but why not just buy a cotton/charcoal face mask? The emergency models look like surgeon masks and only costs $5.00 each. Respro Techno Mask basically uses a charcoal cloth with an exhalation valve.

If you've never worn a dust mask or respirator, it can get pretty hot under there and it takes some getting used to (breathing wise). Place I used to work at, people may go through 2-3 masks for each 8-hour shift and that's just for dusty (paper dust) conditions. Disposable masks are cheaper than buying replacement cartridges for a respirator or a true "gas mask". Even a bandana could be just as effective filtering out airborne particles of a certain micron size.