[spqr0a1]

It boggles my mind that the general public, media, and even healthcare workers treat N95 mask as if they are as good as it gets. Industry routinely uses elastomeric half- and full-face respirators with P100 filters, and they have been easy to find in stock again since August 2020.

P100 is a comparable grade to HEPA, both 99.97%. Respirators are more comfortable and seal well easier than purely fabric masks, they don't pull on your ears, they don't fog glasses, it's just silicone making contact with your skin instead of gross wet fabric so they are much more comfortable. They are also much more effective for smoke and pollen.

I wear a 3M model 7502 face piece with model 7093 filters.

[david38]

The reason is obvious. We don’t want a massive run on P100s. Some applications absolutely need them and a run would wipe them out.

Remember when the feds were confiscating the current masks in transit? You can’t just overnight increase the production of these things.

[JohnTHaller]

Does that model have an unfiltered exhalation valve? That would make it useless to protect others, which is a big point of masks.

[hedgehog]

You can cover the exhaust with filter material, that's what I did.

[tomjen3]

The one I have does not filter the exhalation, but I seem to remember that the goal of masks were to stop the spread and this one does.

[hedgehog]

In practice many N95s filter over 99% of particles including around the important sizes for COVID. I think of them like drinking coffee from a paper disposable cup: convenient in many ways but more expensive over time and a crappier experience than ceramic. Lots of people will do it.

I do however use a 7502 with 2297 filters for high exposure and GVS Elipse for medium exposure like grocery store.

[phnofive]

How is the nuisance odor filtering with the 7093?

I use the 60923 for this purpose, but it's a bit loud in appearance.