luderart

I use a surgical mask to protect my lungs and throat from breathing in all the toxic car and motorcycle smoke in our Lebanese roads and it makes so big a difference that I always wear it. What about you? Are there any other measures I can take to protect my lungs and throat, particularly in the hyperventilating state I am when riding?

dwilbur3

I'm not sure where I read this, but I believe the air quality is better outside where the cyclist is than it is inside the vehicles whizzing past you. A surgical mask might provide some protection against dust and other large particulates, but I doubt it does any good again the NOx, ozone, CO, etc coming from the car exhaust.

luderart

Even if that were true, the people present in the car are not involved in cardiovascular exercise and therefore are not hyperventilating as the bicycle-rider usually is. So it may matter less if they breathe in smoke. Add to that the fact that cars take less time to cover the same distance as a bicycle does (discounting traffic), and it becomes evident that the bicycle-rider is exposed more to the car exhaust and smoke than the car-rider is. And when a car or truck releasing toxic black smoke passes by, the car-rider has the option of closing all windows and avoiding exposure to the toxic black smoke, an option the bicycl-rider who is out the open does not enjoy.

Stray8

A surgical mask can help trap some airborne soot and large particulates, but will be permeable to engine exhaust gases. The way to assure truly clean air is to use a gas filter mask or a breathing unit.

There are some industrial respirators that spray painters use when working with volatile paints.

luderart

No matter what anyone says, I can attest to it from personal experience that using the surgical mask makes a difference. Could that difference - which is visible in such symptoms as coughs or the lack thereof - be due only to trapped airborne soot and large particulates? From my experience, I would think that the surgical mask also reduces the inhalation of engine exhaust gases to some extent.

Stray8

Well, it's better than wearing nothing at all. If you can smell the exhaust gas, then it's not stopping it.


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luderart

Well, I can smell a little of the exhaust gas. But it's much less than would be the case without a surgical mask on, something that has become nearly unthinkable for me when riding!

calvinooo

not quite sure about air quality being better outside than inside.. surgical masks don't really do the job, might look quite strange! I'm sure theres a good selection of bike shops where you are which sell decent cycling masks such as Respro which will offer more protection, and probably look less like a freak!

travelmama

Are you asking a question or arguing a point?

luderart

Wow, I didn't even know cycling masks were available anywhere. I guess I just didn't think they would be. You are right, people are making remarks about H1N1 when they see me riding by with a surgical mask on.

Edit: But there's one potential problem with a cycling mask. Would my eyeglasses fit over it?

luderart

Both, at different levels!

CCrew

None of which you are protected from with just a surgical mask. The difference you feel is no more than a placebo.

nwmtnbkr

OP,

I've never seen any kind of masks in bicycle shops in the US. I don't know if bicycle shops in other countries carry them. I know it's not uncommon to see people wearing masks when outside in China and other parts of Asia. You don't see them very often in the US. Personally, having traveled abroad extensively for work before I retired, I can say that I am more sensitive to diesel exhaust. Outside the US, more vehicles run on diesel than gasoline. In fact, I can remember back in the dark ages, when I was in undergraduate school and studying in Germany, I distinctly remember how much the diesel fumes in Rome bothered me when I visited, but those were the days before emission controls. The last time I visited Rome, air quality was slightly improved due to emission standards.

starla

I've considered getting one of these but haven't yet. Certain times of the year brings out allergens and other irritants that can make breathing difficult for me. So far this year has been okay but should it get worse out there, I'll give the Respro a try. $40 is better than not riding.

gerv 

I find car exhaust worse when stopped at a light. As soon as the vehicle ahead of me steps on the accelerator, I really notice the puff of smoke that emerges. I usually just hold my breath until I pass through it.

AndrewP

This is a good reason for getting to the head of the line at traffic lights or even jumping the red, if traffic conditions allow.

CB HI

You really need to look up the meaning of placebo effect.

lambo_vt

There's a relatively old thread in this forum spearheaded by a somewhat nutty dude who wears a gas mask while riding. I think he's in the UK. If you're simply looking for verification of your opinions, you may find that by searching.

Jonahhobbes

Yeah I seem to remember someone argued that it was a good idea to get a medical before donning a gas mask as it might actually be bad for you, as some gas masks are obviously not designed to be worn when exercising. No idea though it's a vague memory.

paul2432

The best thing to do is to avoid heavy traffic by either riding bike paths or lesser travelled roads, or riding at a time of day with less cars on the road.

Regarding surgical masks, the intent of a surgical mask is to provide others protection from the person wearing the mask. The mask is not intended to provide any protection to the wearer of the mask. This is likely stated on the packaging. What is the brand/model of the mask you are wearing?

Paul

luderart

Well, I doubt your judgement. Because I am a psychologist and quite well acquainted with the meaning of the placebo effect. What is more, knowing the meaning of the placebo effect would not prevent one from falling prey to it. But in this case I doubt there is any question of a placebo effect at work, at least not where the usefulness of a surgical mask is concerned. Since there is no question that soot and large particulates are prevented by a surgical mask. It is only the the other smaller particles and gases for which it is questionable whether the surgical mask reduces them. So that the mask can make a difference there is no doubt. The question is: what is this difference due to?

luderart

The fact that none of the car-exhaust-exposure relevant differences between riding a car and riding a bicycle that I mentioned are effected by wearing a surgical mask does not make the effect I experience when using it due to a placebo effect. Because the surgical mask does not work by trying to change any of those car-exhaust-exposure relevant factors. To do that, you have to make your bicycle motorized and sealed from the outside atmosphere. Finally, a placebo effect is not a panacea for anytime you do not have the proper answer.

CCrew

Yes there's a doubt. Because you've obviously done insufficient research on surgical mask protection to even have a clue. Given the particulate size in engine exhaust, I doubt there's any protection besides what's needed for a bug not to fly in your mouth.

I'll stand by my placebo effect. Not because I haven't the proper answer, but because you've done insufficient background research to understand it.

sci_femme

Correct. There are dust masks with thin active carbon layer in them to trap some organic vapors, but they are no good against nitrous oxide etc.

Not far off base. There are two types of dust - nuisance dust and respirable dust. Nuisance dust is that cloud down the road and it is fairly harmless, although esthetically annoying. It is that black gunk one digs out of the nose after hard day in the fields.
Welding fumes and soot are, on the other hand, just two examples of respirable dust. The particles are finer, lighter and make it past upper respiratory tract, into the trachea and lungs. Surgical mask will trap some or all of it, just as it traps bacterial and viral aerosoles.

It called pulmonary function test, PFT. It is administered by an occupational physician before respirator/gas mask is fitted on a person.

Ride safe

SF

lambo_vt

Honestly if you want to wear a surgical mask while you ride your bike just do it regardless of our opinion. This forum is full of people convinced that one thing or another will make some significant difference in their ride, so you can be the guy/gal that wears a surgical mask. You'll be in good company with the gas mask guy, the one that wears a full face helmet for commuting, the recumbent riders (), etc.