cycling anti-pollution masks

lennymc

Does anyone use the anti pollution masks? I'm asthmatic and riding in Dublin can leave me chesty. Hoping to try one of the masks. Any recommendations?

thanks!

Pigeon Reaper

All studies done with them in Europe show negligible benefits from use. The particulate size in European pollution is generally too small for the masks to filter out. They are of some benefit in areas with large particulate size due to dirty diesel engines, coal fires etc.

omri

lennymc wrote: »

Does anyone use the anti pollution masks? I'm asthmatic and riding in Dublin can leave me chesty. Hoping to try one of the masks. Any recommendations?

thanks!

Had one, used for a short while, hard to breath - so ended up taking the filter of, your mouth gets wet from all the saliva and hot air, so you feel as if horse licked your mouth when you take it off.

Although I started coughing after few months commuting in traffic - which went away when I stopped cycling in traffic on a daily basis.

buffalo

I used to use one as a teenager, and found I struggled to get air into my lungs when wearing it. It may have been a sensation rather than an actual effect, and perhaps with time I would've gotten used to it, or my lungs would've strengthened, but it wasn't worth it for me.

Coupled with the condensed breath on the inside leaving me with a damp face... the pollution ain't so bad.

ednwireland

used to use one of these when i commuted in derby
http://respro.com/store/product/techno-mask

or at least the equivalent of

filter used to be filthy and i got less sneezing attacks wouldnt need it now though !

lennymc

Im looking at this one - http://respro.com/store/product/cinqro-mask - which apparently meets European standard EN 149 FFP, which removes 80% of particulates. (According to google/wikipedia -LOL) and comes with a 'Hepa type' filter designed for city use, and is designed for use when training.

There is also the totobobo but while it claims to be more effective, reviews suggest that it can be hard to breath when pushing on. http://www.totobobo.co.uk/

I think I might try the respro one - chest infections suck.

lennymc

buffalo wrote: »

the pollution ain't so bad.

are you asthmatic? I find i can really notice it on a still day. Id much rather not breath it in than breath it in tho.

rollingscone

More often than not cold air is more of a problem than pollution...try wearing a buff/scarf over your mouth on any givend ay.

omri

If concerned about pollution from cars etc. just smoke a cigarette or 2 a day and I'm sure pollution won't affect you at all

Alek

I used to be heavy asthmatic for the first 18years of my life.

Any effort in cold air was almost instantly triggering the attack.

On the other hand, I find air in Dublin to be the cleanest of all cities I've lived in, due to no industry anywhere close and windy weather.

Koobcam

I spend quite a bit of time in Beijing, serious air pollution there. The big problem there is particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or less-pm 2.5. I've never bothered with a mask, I just don't go out on the bike if the air pollution index gets too high. Compared to Beijing, cycling in Dublin is fine. I think the best strategy is to try to keep your heart rate low so you're not taking in great gulps of air-basically ride slower. Any mask I have tried tends to become uncomfortable when you are breathing hard so I don;t think they are much use beyond cycling at a fairly leisurely pace.

Seaswimmer

lennymc wrote: »

are you asthmatic? I find i can really notice it on a still day. Id much rather not breath it in than breath it in tho.

slightly OT but my wife is asthmatic and she has commented that the last few days have seemed really smoggy. Reminded her of the old smoky coal days of the 80's.

Not sure what the solution is for you. She mostly manages on a strict preventative regime but currently has a chest infection..

buffalo

lennymc wrote: »

are you asthmatic? I find i can really notice it on a still day. Id much rather not breath it in than breath it in tho.

I was as a teenager. One of the reasons my mother got me the mask.

Though the mask I was using was a plain white one, rather disposable. There may have been more advanced models out there, or the technology might've made a leap in 15 years.

pprendeville

As per Koobcams post, PM2.5 is the stuff that causes long term damage to the lungs. I wear a 3M mask here which filters 99.5% of particles. All I'm missing is an angle grinder. The totobobo is probably better and more comfy, filters can be changed I believe. I ran into a woman in a shop here in Beijing with the Respro (not sure which model) and she said it was the dogs ballsocks. Finally, Infipure have these things you can stick in your nose which I find a bit uncomfortable. Give them a google.

On a side note my sister has asthma and it seems the worst flare ups she gets are when she comes back to Ireland. Had spent a few years in Madrid and was fine there. In London now and no problems there either but Ireland, in particularly Wesht Limerick, appears to be the worst.

Bold Abdu

I was looking to get my hands on a respro mask.

Are these stocked anywhere in Dublin?

lennymc

i bought my one on the respro site (i think). quick delivery. I can breathe in it, my chest seems to be clearer after ive used it. I only use it in the city so havent really done any hard intervals with it or anything. It doesnt seem to get too wet inside. It does restrict breathing to a certain extent, but i can live with that.