Originally Posted By: Arney
Another situation to keep in mind is wildfires, even for urban/suburbanites, like the ones raging in parts of Texas. Toxic gases like carbon monoxide are not such a big concern if you're any distance from the fire, but ash and particulates would be a major lung irritant.

I used a cheapo N95 mask (3M V-flex, I think) to deal with the ash fall during the 07 wildfires. It helped a lot with sucking in particulates, but didn't do anything about the smell.

If I have to pick one mask for EDC bag carry, I'd look for a P95 with odor elimination capabilities and a exhale valve to cut down on fogging up your glasses (e.g. 3M 8577).

Originally Posted By: Arney
Also, N-100/P-100 masks can take a lot of effort to breathe through, if they are worn properly, with a tight seal. Some people, especially older folks with less than ideal lung function, are going to tire of breathing with any extended wear, so something to keep in mind.

That is true about the close fitting 99 and 100 rated masks. NIOSH requires a pulmonary test for any working while wearing the tightly sealed respirators. If you're not in the best of healty or expect a fair amount of exertion (evacuating 5-10 miles on foot), they may not be the best choice.
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