Channeling air quality experts
 

I'm heading to China in a couple weeks and am a bit concerned about the air quality. Can someone recommend an effective disposable mask to wear for a week? I have the cheepos from Walmart, but looking for something better.

Seems like the disposable ones are worthless: Chinese urbanites are spending millions on anti-pollution masks

yes, worthless

the wiki on PM10, particulate pollution seemed decent when I read it

bring an O2 tank

I know there's a lot of hysteria out there right now, so trying to find something that actually works.

Read this too:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/798518-have-you-ever-passed-gas-meeting.html

N100 seems to be the highest rating. Wonder if this is adequate?

3M Particulate Respirator 8233, N100: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

As somebody in the air cleaning industry - that mask does not specify the filter type nor what micron level it filters down to.

I'm sure it filters a lot of the bad stuff out but can't say how well it would protect you. Ideally you want a HEPA filter respirator that filters down to .3 microns or so.

One of these: http://www.amazon.com/MSA-Safety-Works-10041139-Respirator/dp/B000P9CX1A/ref=sr_1_1?s=industrial&ie=UTF8&qid=1393457784&sr= 1-1&keywords=full+face+respirator


Hard to sleep with tho .....

what if they see the orange hair, face mask, shades, and think you're some sort of American bandito? They are likely to cut off an appendage.

just tell them "I am from the Future"

Just go and don't freak out about the smog. I was there for 3 weeks in 2007 and yes it was smoggy but I never had that heavy lung or sore throat like a hot SoCal day in August during the 70s. Unless you have serious asthma or emphysema it probably won't kill you... right away.

NIOSH N100 and HEPA are essentially equivalent. That mask is totally adequate.

A friend of mine, British guy, has just come back from three years in Shanghai. He said the air was bad but he managed three years of it without any ill effects

An N95 is pretty good and easier to breathe through than a N100. Look into one with an exhalation valve, it Gets rid of the moisture in the mask and prolongs its life a lot and easier to breathe through.

Depends on which part of China. I am just leaving Guangzhou and the air has not been too bad. When I was up in Qingdao last week I had a real rough time after four days in town. Some of the worst air I have seen in 15 years coming over here.

Here ya go... ;)

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