Travel Masks

Anti-Pollution Masks

For over a dozen years customers whose immune systems are compromised have come to rely on the Classic I Can Breathe! Honeycomb ACF (Activated Carbon Filter) Anti-Pollution Mask to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke, fragrances, pesticides and other airborne challenges as well as air pollution. Now at peak performance, world class athletes recognize the need to filter air that could compromise performance and damage their health. Until the air is clear, the discreet, comfortable Classic I Can Breathe! Honeycomb ACF Pollution Mask meets the challenge for travelers, athletes, and fans.

Front page New York Times: "Olympians Devise Solution to Smog: Mask." Juliet Macur reported, "Pollution levels on a typical day in Beijing, some researchers say, are nearly five times above World Health Organization standards for safety." Jim Yardley's article confirmed "Beijing's air pollution ranked by some studies as among the worst in the world is one of the most pressing challenges facing the city's Olympic organizers." 

An Environmental Engineer with broad international experience in air pollution measurement and control, Mark Hodges compared the I Can Breathe! Honeycomb ACF Pollution Mask to other masks while on assignment in Kabul and Kathmandu: "The data I have is qualitative from the perspectives of fit, convenience, comfort, durability, and perceptibly cleaner air breathed while using the mask. It's numerous positive features notwithstanding, good fit and seal are essential, and the I Can Breathe! ACF Pollution Mask fits and seals well. Further, it is comfortable, which is very important as people tend to take a mask off after a while if it is uncomfortable or restricts breathing." Mr. Hodges, who has studied Beijing air quality as well, is Principal Consultant for Environmental Forward Observer, LLC.

Can a mask be effective? A triathlete who wore a mask during the four days prior to a trial event in China finished first, 12 seconds before others on his team, according to the Wall Street Journal.

From a study done in Los Angeles, Jennifer Warner warns "Air Pollution Deadlier Than Thought." The results of this in-depth analysis show "that the risk of death from any cause rose by 11 percent to 17 percent for each increase in the level of fine particles found in vehicle exhaust, smoke, and industrial emissions in the neighborhoods air."

According to Macur's article: "ACF masks filter 85 percent to 100 percent of the main pollutants . . . compared with paper masks, which filter 25 percent to 45 percent."

The I Can Breathe! Honeycomb ACF Pollution Mask reduces exposure to: Particulate Matter in micrometer size during a fit test: PM 10 100%; PM 2.5 99.8%; PM 1.0 99%; PM 0.7 95.5%.

Activated carbon is known to adsorb common air pollutants: Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) Excellent; Ozone (O3) Excellent; Sulfur dioxide (SO2) Excellent to Fair; Benzene Excellent; Toluene Excellent; Xylene Excellent [not Carbon Monoxide (CO), a hood with oxygen would be needed].

Prepared by Adrien Bledstein, 888-313-0123,  E-mail.

Disclaimer: Though I Can Breathe! masks are supplied to and worn by athletes, ICB masks are not commercially endorsed by a particular athlete or team. We do have paid invoices which prove we provided the masks. February 10, 2008, rev April 9, 1009

Resources:

January 24, 2008 NY Times, Juliet Macur, pages 1A and 14A printed edition or online edition "Olympic Teams Vying to Defeat Beijing's Smog"
www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/sports/othersports/24mask.html?ex=1201842000&en=341b2c0fa 217c67c&ei=5070&emc=eta1;
Yardley "Smoggy Beijing Plans to Cut Traffic by Half for Olympics," http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/world/asia/24beijing.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
See also an earlier article: "Marathoners Might Be Wearing Face Masks In Beijing," August 2007 by Amby Burfoot
http://dailynews.runnersworld.com/2007/08/feature-news-wh.html.

July 21, 2008 front page Wall Street Journal : "Olympic Athletes Wearing Masks Could Cause China to Lose Face: U.S. Committee Developed a Model in Secret; Jarrod Shoemaker Ponders the Dork Factor" by Christopher Rhoads and Sephanie Kang, with contributor in Beijing, Shai Oster. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121659379072468809.html?mod=hpp_us_pageone

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=17882
Also see articles: Juliet Macur, "Beijing Air Raises Questions for Olympics," NY Times, August 25, 2007. For health effects of air pollution in Los Angeles see Study: "Air Pollution Deadlier Than Thought," by Jennifer Warner, October 03, 2005. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,171144,00.html

http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=static.health

http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/ozone.asthma.news.html
and http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=50328

http://www.icanbreathe.com/micron.htm & http://www.icanbreathe.com/chemical.htm.

Magellan's, America's Leading Source of Travel Supplies, 800-962-4943, I Can Breathe!   Honeycomb ACF Pollution Mask

Specialty Luggage, 800-281-3852, Pittsburgh, PA

Questions or comments: in USA call toll free 1-888-313-0123, M-F 9a-5p CST.

International E-mail or call: 001-773-643-1062 M-F 9a-5p Chicago, Illinois. 

I Can Breathe! Inc., 1/6/99-2010    Last update 05/04/10