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All the news about traffic fumes and health recently combined with a regular high city milage taking a toll has got me thinking about filter masks. My major gripe with a mask is the condensation and restriction on the out breath. There is the totobobo mask where the nose is left uncovered but it seems un-natural to breath in through the mouth and out through the nose. What other mask options are out there? Something battery powered that pushed a stream of filtered air over the nose without the need for a sweaty wet mask ruining skin would be the perfect thing but i dont think that exists does it?
Does a mask exist that can filter out particulates as small? I'd be surprised tbh*.
I mean a simple mask, not a strapped on number with replaceable filter units.
Slightly posher disposable industrial masks have a little one-way valve in front of the mouth. Makes a big difference, but not perfect. Anyone offer that option?
Pretty sure most of those are for dust, not HC particulates.
A mask will offer you no protection at all. In order for it to be of any use it needs to have a very tight fit on your face and you will also have to be clean shaven. Your breathing will be so restricted cycling will be a non starter. The guys at work have to have a "face fit test" if they are going to be doing work that requires a mask.
And that is just for concrete particles/dust
Quieter roads and commuting at times with less traffic with be noticeably more effective than any mask.
This is serious stuff. Every time we stay in Manchester me and the mrs get sore throats and that's just walking about not pumping the lungs on two wheels. I read recently that the council were going to introduce a congestion charge but Peal Holdings, owners of the Trafford Centre, opposed it because they thought it would cost them trade, so the Tory-lite council dropped the proposal. King ****s.
Given by far the biggest risk is nitrogen dioxide then masks will not do a thing.
The current thinking is that even on the particulates side of thinks the biggest issue is with pm 2.5’s. These are so tiny that any conventional mask will not be much use anyway.