Which Face Mask Will Filter Cigarette Smoke?

June 2, 2014, by Debra Lynn Dadd

Question from Pam

Hello,

I am asking which air mask would be best for filtering out cigarettes. My grandmother is a chain smoker and a hoarder. When we have to go over to her house to do something the cigarettes overwhelm us. I end up with a migraine and my mother ends up with bronchitis. This happens ever single time. We have tried the face masks that doctors wear, and while they help, it's not great.
We can't stop going over to her house as we are her major support and she refuses to stop smoking. (she also does not believe that smoking is bad for you but that is another issue!) However, we really do not want to get sick. Do you have any suggestions?

Thank You

-Pam

Debra's Answer

I went to the I Can Breathe! website at www.icanbreathe.com and they recommend their Honeycomb Mask with Classic Coconut Activated Carbon Filter.

They have a number of different masks for various purposes and explain which pollutants are removed by each.

Toxic-Free Q&A

These are archives of Q&A asked by readers and answered by Debra Lynn Dadd (from 2005-2019) or Lisa Powers (from 2019-2020). Answers have been edited and updated as of December, 2020.