Polution Masks?
 

Hello people.

A friend showed me a site that sells polution masks. I was wondering if any of you people wear masks like the ones from respro or disposable paper masks or anything like that?

I'm not sure if it actually does what it claims, and if it does, I'm not sure if it could pass the amount of air I take in when cycling (pacing myself is a bit of a problem, maybe oxygen deprivation would be a good cure ;) )

Anyone have any experience with them?

Thanks.

-- James

Can you post a link to that website? I am guessing they won't do much, since most of pollutants are too small and will go right through it.

I tried the Respro Techno? mask. It seems to work and the air I breath feels cleaner when I tried it walking around the street. BUT I have only used it once for commuting and haven't touched it again in months.

The day I used it it was 51F outside commuting home and sunny. I had trouble breathing when I have to draw in large breaths, I sweated a lot under the mask, and it was very uncomfortable at high cadence because, again, it restricted air flow. I felt having to take in deep breaths which is not that comfortable while on a bike for an extended period of time. It may work great if you really pace yourself, but I can't imagine having that on when you especially need it: summer and hot. Like anything else though, YMMV.

The problem with pollution is that it is not always particulate matter, therefore, it would depend on the type of respirator that you're thinking about. Some of the gaseous tailpipe emissions can't be filtered with a mask. Having worked in a scene shop and used a dust filter/organic vapour cartridge combo, I know that I would not be able to ride in one, the resistance is too heavy. Maintaining a tight seal around the edge of the mask is also important, probably a bit difficult on a bike.

On that cheery note, I take a different approach to pollution. I try to breath only through my nose [not always possible], the mucous will trap some of the particulate matter before it hits your lungs and use a nasal wash after riding in heavy traffic. Anti-oxidants are reported to help also.

+1

However it does a great job of keeping my lungs clear when I am bungling around in the insulation in the attic. :)

If the air were that bad where i lived, i would seriously consider moving.

I have seriously considered it. In another year when I'm free of debt I've earned through poor stewardship and the ever so wise decisions of my youth, I'll be able to move out of the city and away from my amazingly (to me) high paying job, which is almost all going to getting debt free as fast as possible. I've got a nice place picked out in the Sierras where some of my friends live. It's simple, slower, The air is clean and the people speak plainly.

In the mean time, I'm in the heart of Los Angeles, and enjoying the city for what it is, which is both horrid and beautiful at the same time.

-- James

I've seen pictures of cyclists in Beijing wearing surgical masks. A paper mask will protect you from dusts and some mists. It won't protect you from gasses like Carbon Monoxide. Really, your exposure rate probably isn't bad enough to need a mask unless your in a highly dense population or an industrial site.