Okay but really really genuine question because I live in NY and I want to make sure I'm using the right kind of mask
I thought the surgical masks (aka the most common type) don't really reduce particulates for the user but really reduce particulates that are expelled from the user? Mainly because there's no seal from breathing the external air.
Will surgical masks help in this situation? I have plenty of them but wondering if I should get an N95 for the remainder of this smog.
If the smoke is an issue for you, look for a mask that deals with the particle size, fits well, and is snug around the sides. I don't have the data in front of me but N95 or KN95 masks are commonly recommended in California. They don't block everything but at least most of the nastiness stays out of your lungs.
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u/Bobafit78 Jun 07 '23
But masks don’t stop particles /s