Health Guide: Airing it All Out

The 2013-2014 beijingkids Health Guide is the latest resource for Beijing families dedicated to providing information on family health care, maternity, eating and breathing safety, mental health, emergency care and traditional Chinese Medicine. Articles from the guide will be featured twice a week on our website. Find the full version here.

What’s the best air pollution mask for China? There are quite a few brands out there, and you now can find them at convenience stores and pharmacies. But which ones really work? Many masks have proven that their material is over 99% effective in blocking PM2.5, which is an important first step. But this test is not nearly as important as real world test results, called quantitative fit tests. Even a great fabric is useless if the mask’s fit isn’t snug on your face, and any air leaking around the edges makes your mask worthless, no matter how expensive or trendy it is. Since air pollution is a truly serious problem here in China, you really shouldn’t mess around with inadequate masks when there are a handful that have proven both 99% fabric effectiveness and 95% or higher efficiency in fit tests. This article offers my personal and professional opinions of the four best reviewed masks, all with proven results: 3M, Totobobo, Vogmask, and I Can Breathe.

3M N95 Masks
The 3M company has a large range of disposable N95 certified masks that they have made for decades as protective gear for construction and heavy industries worldwide. These 3M masks are considered the gold standard of masks as they have the longest track record by far, and all major research studies have used these in their testing of air pollution. Quite a few models are available here, and some have special exhalation valves, useful during sports or preventing fogging up of eyeglasses.
Comfort: These are usually very comfortable on the face. But their straps go behind the head and not around the ears, which is less practical for many users.
Air Leaking: There is very little leaking if the metal nose bridge is pinched together just right.
Exercising: I found it very comfortable to breathe while biking, especially if the model has an exhalation valve.
Fog Factor: I had very little fogging of my glasses with a good seal around the nose.
Stinky Factor: After a few days these do tend to look grey and haggard.
Hipness: Not very consumer-friendly, usually with big black writing, bright yellow elastic strap and an imposing exhalation valve.
Reusable filters: These don’t take replacement filters; each mask can be used for at least a few days until they get dirty or you can’t breathe as easily through it.
Kid Friendly: They only have one model for younger faces, the 1860S child size. But this isn’t easily found in China (but is available on Taobao for anywhere between RMB 10-14, depending on the seller).
Longevity: Each mask can last at least a few days of use before losing effectiveness.
Cost: Each mask should be around 7-15 RMB each, depending on volume.
Bottom Line: 3M will always be the gold standard, is available everywhere, and is useful at all times. You should always have a few available in a pinch. But it’s not the most user-friendly or attractive, and you may prefer reusable ones to cut down on waste.
Available on taobao.com and at April Gourmet.

Read the rest of this article on BeijingKids.

Dr Richard St Cyr is a family doctor at Beijing United Family Hospital

This article originally appeared on pages 42-43 of the beijingkids Health Guide.

Click here to see the Health Guide in full.