I'm curious as to what the filters in B&Q respirators contain. Their
website being crap, I can't find a link, but I refer to the masks with
a rubber bit that fits over mouth and nose, with two round filters on
either side - one for dust and the other for vapour.

I tend to get shortness of breath from solvent and paint fumes. This
week I had it particularly badly (still have, in fact), so I bought
one of the above. The first time I used it, I found that after
breathing through it for a few minutes, I could expand my lungs a lot
better. The effect didn't last for long after I stopped wearing it.

So I'm left wondering what's in the filters, and whether something
there is acting as a bronchiodilator.

I think my current episode is connected to naphtha in wood dye, so I'm
using water-based from now on.


Cheers
Richard

On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 06:03:29 -0700, geraldthehamster
wibbled:

I'm curious as to what the filters in B&Q respirators contain. Their
website being crap, I can't find a link, but I refer to the masks with a
rubber bit that fits over mouth and nose, with two round filters on
either side - one for dust and the other for vapour.

I tend to get shortness of breath from solvent and paint fumes. This
week I had it particularly badly (still have, in fact), so I bought one
of the above. The first time I used it, I found that after breathing
through it for a few minutes, I could expand my lungs a lot better. The
effect didn't last for long after I stopped wearing it.

Charcoal?

So I'm left wondering what's in the filters, and whether something there
is acting as a bronchiodilator.

That would make it medicinal though surely? And thus out of B&Qs realm.

I think my current episode is connected to naphtha in wood dye, so I'm
using water-based from now on.


Cheers
Richard





--
Tim Watts

Managers, politicians and environmentalists: Nature's carbon buffer.

Like John, I suspect you are noticing the effect of the restricted
breathing on your lungs. There are even devices made which use this
effect to 'exercise your lungs', with claimed benefits on asthma and
bronchitis etc.

http://www.powerbreathe.com/
http://www.ultrabreathe.com/


HTH
J^n

On Jun 10, 3:16*pm, John Rumm wrote:
On 10/06/2010 14:03, geraldthehamster wrote:

I'm curious as to what the filters in B&Q respirators contain. Their
website being crap, I can't find a link, but I refer to the masks with
a rubber bit that fits over mouth and nose, with two round filters on
either side - one for dust and the other for vapour.

I tend to get shortness of breath from solvent and paint fumes. This
week I had it particularly badly (still have, in fact), so I bought
one of the above. The first time I used it, I found that after
breathing through it for a few minutes, I could expand my lungs a lot
better. The effect didn't last for long after I stopped wearing it.

It may be that you got accustomed to breathing through a slight
resistance, and hence noticed the extra ease of breathing when it was
removed?


I should clarify - I experienced the effect while breathing through
the mask - ie I was still wearing it. It persisted for some time
afterwards.

Cheers
Richard

On Jun 10, 4:37*pm, jkn wrote:
Like John, I suspect you are noticing the effect of the restricted
breathing on your lungs. There are even devices made which use this
effect to 'exercise your lungs', with claimed benefits on asthma and
bronchitis etc.

http://www.powerbreathe.com/
http://www.ultrabreathe.com/

* * HTH
* * J^n

Those links are interesting - thanks.

Cheers
Richard

On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:29:00 +0100, John Rumm wrote:

Ah ok.... in which case it sounds like you were either experiencing
relief from an airborne contaminant that usually has a negative effect
on your breathing - say the removal of pollen or some other dust. Or,
you may have found the altered humidity with the mask on helped in some
way.

I'd go along with that, with more weight on the raised humidty. A
nebuliser is just a fine water mist. Yes drugs can be added to it but
just the mist can help poor breathing.

The vapour filters probably contain activated carbon.

--
Cheers
Dave.

"John Rumm" wrote in message
o.uk...


I also remember reading of some research with hay fever sufferers wearing
a full helmet respirator for a couple of hours a day. Apparently the
complete relief from pollen etc also proved effective for much longer than
just the spell of use.

I can well believe that - I guess complete relief from symptoms for a couple
of hours gives eyes, nose and throat a chance to simmer right down, and
prevent a lot of the inflammation that also causes irritation.

On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:26:26 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:29:00 +0100, John Rumm wrote:

Ah ok.... in which case it sounds like you were either experiencing
relief from an airborne contaminant that usually has a negative effect
on your breathing - say the removal of pollen or some other dust. Or,
you may have found the altered humidity with the mask on helped in some
way.

I'd go along with that, with more weight on the raised humidty. A
nebuliser is just a fine water mist. Yes drugs can be added to it but
just the mist can help poor breathing.

Which is a bit strange as asthma typically gets worse in very thundery
weather.


--

On Jun 10, 5:29*pm, John Rumm wrote:

I also remember reading of some research with hay fever sufferers
wearing a full helmet respirator for a couple of hours a day. Apparently
the complete relief from pollen etc also proved effective for much
longer than just the spell of use.


And also down a salt mine, which have very low levels on airborne
pollutants and allergens

J^n

On 11 June, 14:07, jkn wrote:
On Jun 10, 5:29*pm, John Rumm wrote:



I also remember reading of some research with hay fever sufferers
wearing a full helmet respirator for a couple of hours a day. Apparently
the complete relief from pollen etc also proved effective for much
longer than just the spell of use.

And also down a salt mine, which have very low levels on airborne
pollutants and allergens

I was describing my symptoms today to a friend who suffers from
asthma, and he left me wondering if I have adult-onset asthma myself
(I'm 50), brought on in this case by naphtha fumes. I'm going to see
my doctor on Monday, anyway. He loves it when I self-diagnose from the
internet ;-)

Cheers
Richard

John Whitworth wrote:


"John Rumm" wrote in message
o.uk...


I also remember reading of some research with hay fever sufferers
wearing a full helmet respirator for a couple of hours a day.
Apparently the complete relief from pollen etc also proved effective
for much longer than just the spell of use.

I can well believe that - I guess complete relief from symptoms for a
couple of hours gives eyes, nose and throat a chance to simmer right
down, and prevent a lot of the inflammation that also causes irritation.

Yes. I remember a drive in a Corsa..with pollen filter..after 2 hours I
could breathe again.

its a neat trick. Use the aircon and the fan with the windows closed in
hot weather to get relief.

Oddly enough, another trick that works for me is to drive to Norfolk.
the sandy soil supports different grasses to which I am less
susceptible, I conjecture, (with no other evidence to support it) ;-)

The Other Mike wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:26:26 +0100 (BST), "Dave Liquorice"
wrote:

On Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:29:00 +0100, John Rumm wrote:

Ah ok.... in which case it sounds like you were either experiencing
relief from an airborne contaminant that usually has a negative effect
on your breathing - say the removal of pollen or some other dust. Or,
you may have found the altered humidity with the mask on helped in some
way.
I'd go along with that, with more weight on the raised humidty. A
nebuliser is just a fine water mist. Yes drugs can be added to it but
just the mist can help poor breathing.

Which is a bit strange as asthma typically gets worse in very thundery
weather.


Actually not really. It depends on what is triggering it.