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.
Don’t forget microplastics!
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.
leaf blowers
Seriously, those things are the worst.
The landscape company that maintains the condo I live in uses them exclusively to “clean” the paved common areas and every time they do, the dust blows up into the air, and then 15 minutes after they pass it resettles right back where it came from, while also leaving a fine film of dust on every flat surface in the apartment, as well as small piles of long-accumulated gunk in every corner and crevice. I can’t help but think how much better and quieter this place would be if they just used brooms.
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.
Yeah. It’s around 1.25 miles (2km). Unless it’s rush hour Mumbai or downtown Beijing I wouldn’t be too worried.
If I was that worried I’d probably want air filters/respiration if I was running, walking or in a vehicle. But that’s just me.
Won’t stop fumes but it will stop a bunch of particulate pollution and prevent you from accidentally eating bugs!
Free food.
Pure Protien
It would definitely help, but you’ll need the industrial/respirator type that can filter particles small enough in exhaust fumes.
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.
I use a FFP3-Mask with exhaust valves while biking in spring and early summer to filter out pollen and this works really well for me!
Masks without valves are exhausting to me and fog up my glasses too much though.
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.
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.
deleted by creator
As much as I hated that excuse during the pandemic, I think I’d have trouble breathing when wearing an FFP3/N95 mask while cycling. Granted, I’m talking about cycling as a sport, not for commuting (though I tend to have a decent speed while commuting). Going 30 km/h I really need my air to keep it up.
