Experience with air pollution masks like Respro?

On 17 Sep 2004 09:18:03 -0700, [email hidden] (John Black)

Quoted message said:

Like perhaps many of you, I am concerned about the effects on my
health of inhaling polluted air while cycling. I have taken the steps
I can to avoid bad air, but I don't think these steps are adequate. I
am expecially concerned about diesel exhaust which, with high enough
exposure, is known to have adverse effects.

So, I am considering buying a mask with filter. Respro seems to offer
the most cycling-specific models, particularly the Sportsta model. I
have searched the Groups for discussion threads on air pollution
filters and found little, to my surprise.

Does anyone have any experience with such masks? Do they work? Are
they comfortable? Do they limit inhalation/exhalation to an annoying
extent? Can you make any recommendations? Thanks.

Particulate filtering is easy, and not a bad idea. Engine exhaust has
a lot more than just particulates in it (particularly diesel exhaust),
many of which are difficult to filter even with activated carbon or
reagent cartridges. No economical filter that I've seen will reduce
ozone, either.

A good dust mask is not a bad idea. Anything more than that is going
to be heavy and hot.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
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(John Black) said:

Like perhaps many of you, I am concerned about the effects on my
health of inhaling polluted air while cycling. I have taken the steps
I can to avoid bad air, but I don't think these steps are adequate. I
am expecially concerned about diesel exhaust which, with high enough
exposure, is known to have adverse effects.

So, I am considering buying a mask with filter. Respro seems to offer
the most cycling-specific models, particularly the Sportsta model. I
have searched the Groups for discussion threads on air pollution
filters and found little, to my surprise.

Does anyone have any experience with such masks? Do they work? Are
they comfortable? Do they limit inhalation/exhalation to an annoying
extent? Can you make any recommendations? Thanks.

Yes, it is true there is a link between particulates and heart
disease. The American Heart Association released a statement on this
issue in June.

http://snipurl.com/9522

For an individual, the added risk from air pollution is quite
small. Because of the large numbers of persons affected, however, it
is an important public health issue. The AHA recommendations are
primarily directed at regulatory bodies to improve air quality, and to
the medical community to conduct further research. The only
recommendations for individuals at this point is for folks with
established heart disease or risk factors to limit their activity on
"smog alert" days.

I do not believe anyone has studied the effectiveness of this type of
mask for this purpose. There is probably some benefit, but it is
likely to be very small for a couple of reasons. First, although there
is an increased risk from air pollution, it is small for an individual,
considerably smaller than other risk factors. Second, there is added
risk from just living in a polluted area, the filter is only reducing
your exposure while riding, much exposure still remains.

Ultimately it is going to be a matter of balancing any inconvenience
and discomfort of a mask against some, likely very small, benefit it
may provide. If you find the mask at all uncomfortable it probobly is
not worth wearing.

Bet'cha can't find that statement from someone without a financial interest.
"Jim Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

(John Black) said:

Like perhaps many of you, I am concerned about the effects on my
health of inhaling polluted air while cycling. I have taken the steps
I can to avoid bad air, but I don't think these steps are adequate. I
am expecially concerned about diesel exhaust which, with high enough
exposure, is known to have adverse effects.

So, I am considering buying a mask with filter. Respro seems to offer
the most cycling-specific models, particularly the Sportsta model. I
have searched the Groups for discussion threads on air pollution
filters and found little, to my surprise.

Does anyone have any experience with such masks? Do they work? Are
they comfortable? Do they limit inhalation/exhalation to an annoying
extent? Can you make any recommendations? Thanks.

Yes, it is true there is a link between particulates and heart
disease. The American Heart Association released a statement on this
issue in June.

http://snipurl.com/9522

For an individual, the added risk from air pollution is quite
small. Because of the large numbers of persons affected, however, it
is an important public health issue. The AHA recommendations are
primarily directed at regulatory bodies to improve air quality, and to
the medical community to conduct further research. The only
recommendations for individuals at this point is for folks with
established heart disease or risk factors to limit their activity on
"smog alert" days.

I do not believe anyone has studied the effectiveness of this type of
mask for this purpose. There is probably some benefit, but it is
likely to be very small for a couple of reasons. First, although there
is an increased risk from air pollution, it is small for an individual,
considerably smaller than other risk factors. Second, there is added
risk from just living in a polluted area, the filter is only reducing
your exposure while riding, much exposure still remains.

Ultimately it is going to be a matter of balancing any inconvenience
and discomfort of a mask against some, likely very small, benefit it
may provide. If you find the mask at all uncomfortable it probobly is
not worth wearing.