If you’re planning on traveling to a country with unusually high levels of pollution, (think China, India, Egypt, Thailand during burning season, or Vietnam), it’s a wise choice to bring along a pollution mask. Your respiratory health should be your top priority, so you’re going to need to know which masks are effective at preventing toxic particles from infiltrating your lungs.

If you’ve ever worn a disposable 3M pollution mask while doing construction, you might’ve learned that the quality is not exceptional. Not only are they disposable, but they’re also uncomfortable. They get dirty and gross in a hurry.

There are plenty of reasons that these masks might not make sense to take with you when traveling to more polluted places. When evaluating which masks will be best for your needs, I’m going to be using the following criteria:

• Is it Refillable / Washable? Pollution masks tend to get filthy in a hurry. You'll want to have the ability to replace or clean the filter quickly. 
• Is it Comfortable? This might seem like a minor issue at first, but wearing an uncomfortable mask just makes you want to remove it.
• Does it work? Just because a mask feels and looks good doesn’t make it the best choice. It needs to actually protect your lungs. Worthwhile masks will usually be marked with either, “N95,” or “N99.” This indicates what percentage of pollutants they filter out, 95% to 99% respectively.

With these items in mind, let's evaluate the best pollution masks for countries like China for expats and travelers. The following masks are the best suggestions for people already living in China. In the end, I'll include some recommendations for people who want to buy their mask before they start their journey abroad.

ETGLCOZY Dust Mask

This military grade, carbon pollution dust mask is made with high quality cotton. It is suitable for sports, hiking, mountain climbing and more. Ideal for people who live in or travel to areas with high air pollution or smoke this mask provides protection from pollen and smoke with PM2.5 and PM0.3.

 Not only do these masks preserve your lungs in air-polluted places, they also reduce the amount of vehicle exhaust, mist, and sand interfere with your breathing. They also protect against dust in changing weather conditions.

Respro Techno Mask

There are a variety of different versions of the Respro brand masks, but it is one of the most popular because of its excellent filtration and lightweight design. It comes in a couple different colors and medium and large sizes.

UBRU Reusable Dust Mask

The UBRU PM 2.5 masks were specifically designed for protection against the polluted air in cities. You can use them for cleaning, renovation, gardening, drilling, carpentry. With this dust-proof cycling mask, you can enjoy your life outdoors while staying safe from pollutants. Regardless of the contaminants and pollen in the air, you’ll be safe from damaging your respiration.

Respro Ultralight

The Respro Ultralight is one of the best masks you can buy, offered by one of the best brands. It has been rated as one of the best to wear, with dual air valves providing better air flow. It’s meant to be used by people that want to avoid breathing toxic particles while exercising, be it running, or biking, or playing sports.

Is China’s air pollution dangerous?

Air pollution is a contributing factor in the deaths of approximately 1.6 million Chinese people every year, according to a recent report. If you do the math, you’ll find that this is about 4,400 people each day. Toxic air in Chinese cities has been recognized as a serious issue around the world. The Berkeley Earth paper brings the dangers of smog shrouding Beijing and other cities to light.

Research data shows that three out of eight Chinese residents consistently breathe air that would be considered “unhealthy” in the West. Going by the air quality standards in 2015, 90% of the 366 Chinese Cities research had toxic air.

Dangerous airborne particles with a diameter of fewer than 2.5 micros can promote a range of severe health issues if absorbed into the blood, increasing the chances of heart attacks, cancer, and asthma. Many residents wear air pollution masks to reduce these risks, even when there are blue skies above the nation's capital. The problem is that not all masks offer the same level of protection.

Who Should Wear a Mask?

If the air quality index (AQI) is below 100, there is very little need for you to wear a mask, not unless you are particularly sensitive to air quality. You might need to limit prolonged exposure to outdoor air if you struggle with respiratory conditions. But when the AQI ascends over 150, that’s when serious problems might start to take root in your lungs.

Air is considered unhealthy at this level, and you might start to experience adverse health effects. The entire population of China might experience moderate to severe health effects at the 300 to 500 air quality index. So, if you’re going to go outside, you’re probably going to want an air pollution mask to protect your respiratory health.

Choosing a Mask

Your mask should form a tight seal around your face and be airtight. Some experts warn that cotton masks or surgical style cotton masks could be worse for you than wearing nothing at all. These kinds of masks are not very effective at filtering pollutants from the air, so for some, they might create a false sense of security, leading to increased exposure.

One of the most important things to consider when choosing an air pollution mask is how well it fits. If there are any air gaps, you may end up breathing toxic particulates in spite of your mask. Though more than a few masks advertise that they are over 99% effective, be careful when deciding. Note that sometimes when wearing a mask, the lenses of your glasses might steam up when you exhale.

You should also think about the material used to create your mask. It needs to be capable of filtering toxins out of the air. Though many masks show a rating so you can see how effective they might be, it’s difficult to know if they are trustworthy.

Examine how the mask is ventilated. This is especially noteworthy if you plan on using your mask while exercising outdoors. You won’t want to wear something that makes your face feel heavy and uncomfortable. It will make exercising more difficult. You should find a mask that provides a sufficient amount of breathing space.

A more superficial consideration is the style. While some models may be effective, they may make you look like a supervillain. If you can’t find a mask you like the appearance of, you can always wear an attractive mask like a Vogmask over the more effective mask. While it won't make you any safer, you'll at least be more confident and comfortable wearing it. 

Best Masks for China

While many people are concerned about the impact of air pollution on their health, more sites and organizations are testing the effectiveness of different masks. The Consumer Rights Protection Commission examined 17 disposable air pollution masks and posted the results on their website.

Conclusion

If you’re only going to be in China for a short time, then a cheap mask might be good enough for you. You just want to make sure that your mask provides a healthy airflow when you are in pollution cities.

A longer lasting, more comfortable alternative might be the best choice for an expat or anyone living in China for an extended duration. The Respro masks are a great example of this and are well worth the extra cost if you can afford one.

Questions

Which mask is best?

The Respro Ultralight is considered the best mask you can get for pollution. They are the best choice for people planning to live in China for an extended duration.

Should you wear a mask in China?

You should monitor the air quality levels in your location to be sure. If the AQI reaches anywhere over 100, it would be advisable to wear a mask. Though pollution levels have improved in China in recent years, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Do face masks work?

Yes, you want to check their rating to make a more educated choice.

Which is better n95 or n99 mask?

An N99 choice is said to filter nearly 99% of all pollutants.

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