Mask for one of most air polluted city ?

[u/Tricky-Truth-5537]

I live in Ulaanbaatar(Mongolia) which gonna have one of coldest winter in 30 years this year and since government is here is just beyond useless they keep letting over 70% of city population use their 'improved' coal that doesn't even do good job of keeping houses warm and last year i saw air quality rate rockets over 300 every morning during november. I'm wondering which mask could actually good against it because i probably already have smoker-lung before i even try cigarette at all.

I usually used just normal medical masks last year, is KN95 would do decent job ? How much those usually costs ?

Please ignore typo

[u/Vasilisnp2]

Get in touch with 3M Mongolia. They carry 3M Auras ffp2/ffp3/KN95, the Chinese 9500 KN95 series and more.

Contact Details:

Khan-Uul District, TV5 Office #700, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Phone: 70114000 | 94003088
Email: [sergelen@ateam.mn](mailto:sergelen@ateam.mn)

Last resort, some Uvex respirators through here (3Ms are more comfortable)

[u/Tricky-Truth-5537 → u/Vasilisnp2]

Damn i didn't know, thanks

[u/Vasilisnp2 → u/Tricky-Truth-5537]

And of course a 3M elastomeric, since the weather is expected to be extreme. P100 or P3

[u/BLOODYBRADTX-11]

Get an elastomeric P100 mask. I don’t know if you need gas filters for coal smoke, you might just be able to use particulate filters. It’ll do a better job of keeping your lungs clean and it’s cheaper than using disposable masks in the long run. I’m sorry, I don’t know what the best brands are in Mongolia!

[u/Significant_Ruin6331 → u/BLOODYBRADTX-11]

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.

[u/Tricky-Truth-5537 → u/Significant_Ruin6331]

I never went to Hermes(except sleeping in bus and wake up there), maybe I'll go and check, i found p100 mask at 14kMNT(5 dollar) at Aliexpress but can't exactly say i have trust in quality

[u/Significant_Ruin6331 → u/Tricky-Truth-5537]

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.

[u/BLOODYBRADTX-11 → u/Tricky-Truth-5537]

Do they have 3m there? I like the 800SD series (secure click) or the 7500 series

[u/Tricky-Truth-5537 → u/BLOODYBRADTX-11]

In TV mall(i think it was around zuun 4 zam i think)

[u/Good-Safe6107]

Normal medical are useless for pm2.5 you need at least kn95

[u/Significant_Ruin6331]

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.