"Hello all !

I have been scanning the web for the past month for details of cheap gas masks to use for the IMF + WB meeting demos in Prague, Czech Republic  ~ 23-29 September.  For more info see http://x21.org/s26/ 30,000 people are planning to go to Prague to resist the World Bank & International Monetary Fund.

Be there for an amazing time!

Well I'm happy for people to publish the info below & distrube it.  I truly believe that is the best that activists can get, bearing in mind their lack of money & the need to avoid dehydration during demonstrations ( hence half masks ).  You can cut the article below, but you MUST leave in the Filter descriptions & if possible the order codes. Attached is a more indepth version of my research, with details on how to treat people who have been sprayed, some of the info is thanks to the US Marines !  Hopefully it may be put on http://x21.org/s26/ this month.

Please let me have your feedback and peer review.

thanks

Eco.Climber@iname.com"

UPDATE: Do not use filters for more than 8 hours in gas situations & take the filters off & ventilate them well outside, if you are using the same filters the next day. Methylene chloride has a nasty habit of desorption ( it vaporises off the filter into the mask ) so you must only wear the mask when needed & ventilate it well between uses  better still, buy / steal new filters, but we can't really afford this ).

Any P3 filter ( even the high quality paper ones ) will protect you from CS ( which is actually a powder ); it is the Methylene chloride which is the awkward stuff.

Basically what you need to get is a mask with 2 filters called AX & P3. If you cannot get an AX filter, then an ABE1 filter or an A1 filter are reasonable alternatives. Pre-filters are very useful for extending the life of the main filters.

 P3 filters acturally give protection from radioactive particles,micro organisms  viruses & bacteria ), & Bio Chemical agents ( enzymes, hormones ).  P3 filters have 1% adsorption by volume ( 10000 parts per million ).

Pre-filters are required to stop the pepper spray from clogging up the filters and shortening use.

Item	Item Code(s) for ARCO	Price
Sundstm TPE	Medium Sized - 01689, Large - 01688	£11.95 + Vat (both sizes)
CEN P3 aerosol droplets + high-efficiency particulate filter	01656	4.21 + vat
CEN  ABE1 filter ( Organic + Inorganic + acid gas )	01671	6.85 + vat
	TOTAL COST £26.27 including VAT

Buying a pack of pre-filters ( 50 ), code: 01658, 9.25 including vat, considerably improves the life of the filters & is strongly recommended, especially if you are buying several masks.

P3 filters give protection from radioactive particles, micro organisms ( viruses & bacteria ), & Bio Chemical agents ( enzymes, hormones ).  P3 filters have 1% adsorption by volume ( 10000 parts per million ).

The mask above is a most comfortable & cheapest version, with front mounted filters. You need both filters to stop aerosol droplets ( CS ) & Organic Vapours ( methylene chloride ).  However, because the boiling point of methylene chloride is low ( 40C ) desorption is a big problem, ( when the chemical vapourises off the filter into the mask ) so you should only wear the mask when needed & you should use pre-filters & change them at least once a day.
Nominal Protection Factor 50, Approved Protection Factor 10.
 

Item	Item Code(s) for ARCO	Price
Sundstm TPE	Medium - 01689, Large - 01688	£11.95 + Vat (both sizes)
CEN P3 aerosol droplets + high-efficiency particulate filter	01656	4.21 + vat
CEN  AX ( Low boiling point vapours - excellent filter! )	01673	6.85 + vat
	Total  26.27 including VAT

The above has been recommended as the best all-round half face respirator set up. An AX filter is better than an ABE1 filter, according to some info from a British Army Filter supplier.
 

Item	Item Code(s) for ARCO	Price
North N5500	(small / medium / large sizes) 01399	10.30 + vat
CEN A1,B1,E1,P3 combination filter	01428	14.30 + vat ( pack of 2 )
	TOTAL COST £28.91 including VAT

(10 Pre-filters N7500 6AU, code: 01410 7.05 including vat,  are well pricey, especially as you need to use 2 each time, also you have to pay 0.48 for the Fit checking filter cover N7500 27U code: 01429_)

The above is a half face mask respirator, with side mounted filters. Approved to EN140 and made from hypo-allergenic, elastomer. The filters do the same job as the Sundstm & have the same protection factor.
 

Item	Item Code(s) for ARCO	Price
3m 6000 series	6100 / medium 1116 / large 6300	9.55 + vat (all sizes)
CEN P3	01134	5.96 + vat (pack of 2 )
CEN ABE1	01123	6.68 + vat ( pack of 2 )
502 filter adaptor	01130	£2.30 + vat (pack of 2)
	TOTAL COST £28.77 including VAT

This is a half face mask respirator, with side mounted filters.  Approved to EN143 + EN141. The filters do the same job as the Sundstm & have the same protection factor.

3M, North & Sundstm masks are available from retailers around the world.