Hello.
Twice a day I ride bicycle for 2km along a busy city road (2x2 lanes at 50km/h).
From a health standpoint, is it recommended to wear a face mask (N95)? Does it stop exhaust fumes?
Thank you.
An N95 mask catches particulates, not vapors; so it won’t do anything for gasoline vapors or other hydrocarbons, monoxide, nitrogen oxides, or sulfur oxides. It will do something for exhaust particulates and kicked-up dust.
Would it work for things like diesel ash, or is that too fine for an N95?
Great question. There’s at least one study that claims they do help:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7780759/
A lot of folks who operate leaf blowers and such would also benefit from wearing a respirator. I see landscapers forgetting to do this all the time. They have the eye and ear protection, but no lung protection.
Cool, the study was done at the University of North Sumatra. I’m adding it to my archive. Thanks!!
From the Abstract/ Conclusion: “All three type of masks such as surgical mask, N95 mask, and carbon mask was effective to reduce CO levels from air pollution with the most significant was N95 and carbon mask. Fabric mask has the poorest protection from CO levels.”
I’m surprised at the N95 being effective. And expect the best results would come from a fresh, well fitted, carbon filter. As for myself, I do my best to ride where the motor vehicles are not present. Our town, like many, has a decent bike/ walking trail system.
Downside of covering the mouth with eye protection on is the fogging. Then you’re not able to do a safe job as you simply cant see.
As a former paintball player, I do know what you’re talking about. There are solutions for this problem, but they’re kind of a nuisance. Your lungs may be worth the nuisance.
Heh. I have to wear glasses and play woodsball, so I journeyed high and low for a solution.
I have not found one, even rigged up my own attempts and nothing.
I don’t know, but I guess that depends on the specific person, I biked for 10 years through the city, 7km one way, 7km back in the evening, summer, winter, never had respiratory problems, still got none about 7 years later, my problems started when I stopped. I actually gained substantially weight :) true story. Weight’s gone, but what a fight it was.
Won’t stop fumes but it will stop a bunch of particulate pollution and prevent you from accidentally eating bugs!
Free food.
It would be incredibly difficult to bike with a real n95 quality mask. You would definitely have to get one with exhaust valves for exhalation.
Oxygenation may be a concern, depending on how winded you get. I’m not saying that you’ll pass out or anything so dramatic, but studies have shown that even mild hypoxia can effect our ability to make complex decisions, which may be an issue when biking in traffic.
Those without respiratory issues don’t have oxygenation issues while wearing masks.
The same air is going into your lungs, the only difference is your diaphragm has to work harder due to the filtering effect of the mask. If it can’t manage that, then you are likely already on oxygen due to low tidal volume and chronic hypoxia.
You can buy a pulse oximeter from CVS for like $20 and test this yourself if you don’t believe me.
Woah, man it’s cool, I believe you. No need to threaten me with a trip to CVS.
If it is the vented type …maybe… some studies did say that joggers simply cough or expel bad air when they breath heavily under exercise. Car drivers and child pedestrians tend to inhale more, and more that sticks to the lung lining.
N95 is the minimum, p100 with organic vapor filter will be better, to get the best you coverage you’ll need a p100 with a multi gas charcoal filter.
With the p100, your looking at a half mask respirator, which I did use during the pandemic and took a 5k run with it. While not impossible, it was harder and for me pretty uncomfortable.
