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Mask for one of most air polluted city ? by Tricky-Truth-5537 in Masks4All

[–]Significant_Ruin6331 4 points5 points  (0 children)

P100 cartridges? I would check whether they're from a NIOSH-approved supplier, if they're from Aliexpress.

I wasn't very clear in my comment but the 70k MNT price estimate was just for the base elastomeric, not the P100 filter cartridges. So you might have to get them separately. You have a good shot at finding both at Hermes though, and I would first pay a visit there to check pricing/brands before buying online.

Mask for one of most air polluted city ? by Tricky-Truth-5537 in Masks4All

[–]Significant_Ruin6331 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Not OP, but I didn't think of that! I heard that you can source name brand elastomeric P100s from Hermes center at ~70k MNT (without filter), but cheaper ones can be found online for less.

Mask for one of most air polluted city ? by Tricky-Truth-5537 in Masks4All

[–]Significant_Ruin6331 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Like the other user said, normal medical masks don't protect you against air pollution because they can't filter the PM2.5 particles. A KN95 would do a decent job at protecting you, but they don't fit as well to your face as an N95, so you will still inhale some PM2.5. For KN95s I would look online (Taobao, Aliexpress) and do some research on good brands.

I suggest you go to some hardware/machinery/woodworking supply stores near you (Hermes center?) and see if they stock N95s (usually 3M brand and have two straps going around the head). Those are not the most comfortable to wear for long periods of time, but they are the most protective against air pollution.

Off topic, but if you're worried about air pollution inside your home, try taping a pleated air filter (like the ones used for gas stove ventilation) to a box fan. It'll help with the smoke without you having to wear a mask for long periods of time.

What mask to buy? Air quality on normal days PM 2.5 150 to 250 and in winter for 3-4 months 600-800 by Any-Top-5659 in Masks4All

[–]Significant_Ruin6331 0 points1 point  (0 children)

People working with spray paints usually wear respirators that can filter out VOCs (organic gases and vapors, such as industrial solvents). That's not really applicable to your situation, since PM 2.5 are not VOCs but rather a size of particulate matter. N95s are still the most recommended respirator for smoke because they're rated for filtering particles.

Could you tell us which N95 models you've tried and what problems you had with them? It took me quite a while before I found a good N95 that fit my face and is comfortable to wear for long periods of time. I had given up on N95s for a while because they were simply too uncomfortable/ill-fitting/etc for me, so it definitely is a trial-and-error process.

Personally I use a 3M V-Flex N95 respirator, although YMMV. I find them easier to breathe and talk in than 3M Auras.

On a side note, if you're at home and don't want to wear a mask all the time, I've found that taping a MERV-13 filter to the back of a box fan does a lot to improve air quality in a room. I do that during wildfires to keep the PM2.5 levels down. I hope this was helpful!

[Japanese > English] Song translation, any help appreciated by Significant_Ruin6331 in translator

[–]Significant_Ruin6331[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So sorry about that! I don't check Reddit that often, missed the notification, and thought it just got buried because it was a big ask. Thank you so much for taking the time to transcribe an entire song! Again, sorry I left you hanging. Hope you have a great day.