New Recommendations for Cyclists' Respirator Filters

By Elizabeth O’Brien, Manager of the Lead Advisory Service (NSW)

A new respirator filter is being recommended for cyclists. The Lead Advisory Service, in place of the P2, now recommends the "ABE1P2" filter.

During discussions between the LAS and the Victorian company Alsafe Safety Industries P/L, Alsafe stated that whereas the P2 filter only filters particulates, the "ABE1P2" also filters organic vapours and acid gases, including sulphur dioxide. An "A" type filter is for organic vapours, "BE1" is for acid gases and P2 is for particulates.

Alsafe quoted the cost of the ABE1P2 filters is around $9 per filter for the dual filter style respirator, or $20 per filter for the single filter style. The filters can also be purchased from hardware stores.

Alsafe said there is no respirator suitable for cyclists which is both wearable (in a practical sense) and would remove all possible contaminants in motor vehicle emissions that a cyclist might be exposed to. Contaminants not filtered include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides.