3 ms·

I am not a Stanford student, but I bike with a mask on when near traffic. It has nothing to so with the virus and everything to do with measurable quality of ai

• lambdaba 5y ago
  Again, thank you, you've persuaded me to give an N95 a try as I often have the snot problem when riding in traffic. Are some better than others?
  • jerlam 5y ago
    The biggest difference between various N95s is fit, but that's going to rely on your specific facial characteristics. The respirator needs to seal well to your face otherwise the polluted air will take the path of least resistance, through the gaps between your face and the mask. Some respirators come in small sizes and different shapes may fit differently. Once you achieve a decent fit, a secondary characteristic is inhalation/exhalation resistance. Good N95 filter material can achieve the required 95%+ filtration but also achieve very low breathing resistance. The N95 requirements for inhalation resistance are quite easy to achieve, being less than 35 mmH2O. Good respirators test at less than 10 mmH20. If you are going to use an N95 frequently, it probably makes more sense to invest in an elastomeric respirator, which is made out of a softer thermoplastic or silicone material. They use separate detachable filters which are more durable than the simple folded filter material of a disposable, and do not degrade due to exhaled moisture or sweat.