AirAware

Don't you hate it when you catch silicosis from welding? Silicosis is caused by breathing rock dust that has silica in it, not welding fumes. This is how you know you can't trust BreatheX marketing or their nostril filters. The ad, including the crying man with an inexplicable case of silicosis from welding, is apparently AI generated in whole or in part. Welding fumes are a real workplace hazard that can cause a variety of lung diseases, such as pulmonary siderosis, aka Welder's disease caused by aerosolized iron particles. Welding can give off a variety of inhalable metal particulates, and gases such as ozone and nitrogen oxides. Welders need protection from those fumes and gases, through ventilation, fume extraction and certified particulate respirators, as conditions warrant. What BreatheX sell are non-certified nostril filters with mediocre filtration of welding fumes. How mediocre? Well, according to BreatheX's own website: "Depends on particle size and breathing rate. LMS Technologies (modified ANSI/ASHRAE 52.2) data: 1 micron particles: 40 to 50% capture 5 micron particles: 70 to 85% capture 10 micron particles: 75 to 87% capture" See how the filtration gets worse as the particles get smaller? Welding fumes are smaller than one micron, many below 1/10th of a micron that can get deep into your lungs. BreatheX don't give any data for how well their nostril filters work on dangerous welding particles 1/10th of a micron or smaller, but you can safely bet the answer is "poorly". Compare BreatheX 40% filtration of 1 micron particles to N95s, which filter 95% or better of particles 0.3 microns, and filter larger and smaller particles even better than that. N100s filter 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles or better. BreathX ads suggest you should use their nostril filters instead of a certified industrial respirator. But the CYA disclaimers on their website say you shouldn't do what their ads tell you to do. TL;DR Do not use uncertified nostril filters instead of certified respirators for protection from welding fumes, or from silica dust.

Beware of social media ads for respirators. I just got this one on Facebook. It's generative AI, pretending to be selling an innovative new "Cyber" respirator for a discounted price of $120. If you actually get anything for your $120, you'll probably get sent a $3 3M knockoff from Alibaba, which may or may not work.