Disclaimer & Ethics

About respirator and mask reviews

I’m not a doctor, and I haven’t studied in a field related to air pollution respirators, so this website is meant for informational purposes only. I research all of my articles thoroughly and always include sources where I’ve found information, but nothing here is a substitute for professional medical advice and it shouldn’t be relied on as health or personal advice. The intent of these articles is to discuss masks and respirators in the context of air pollution, not medical applications, and everything reflects my own opinion and experience, which may differ from yours.

It’s also worth stressing that respirators are only effective if they’ve been fit-tested, and fit-testing requires professional training, so best practices should always be followed to ensure proper protection. While professional training is ideal, official sources such as the CDC provide basic guides for proper respirator use. I strongly encourage anyone considering respirator use for health protection to consult a medical professional and seek proper fit-testing where possible.

Testing methodology

My testing is explained on a per-article basis and varies depending on the product type and what I have access to. I try to balance research with my own hands-on testing, though it’s important to note that air quality monitors need a reference-grade device for proper testing. For some products I can test comprehensively over weeks or months; for others, a review may lean more on research, specifications and shorter-term testing.

I always try to be transparent about those limitations and state in each review what kind of testing I was able to do. If I haven’t been able to test something thoroughly, I’ll say so rather than pretend I have more experience with it than I do. My goal is to give you honest insights based on whatever level of testing and research I can realistically manage, while being completely upfront about any limitations in my methodology.

Updates and discrepancies

Sometimes I may contradict myself or change my view across articles. Almost always that’s because this blog is a constant learning process and I learn more as I go, so in cases of conflicting information it’s usually because I’ve learnt more since the earlier piece. In those cases, please trust the most recent article, as it reflects my current views.

If you notice something out of date, please email me so I can update it. As a single person running this blog while also balancing a job, I simply don’t have time to keep every article perfectly current, and with the pace of new product releases and evolving research, some older articles may contain outdated information. It’s an ongoing challenge I’m always working on, and I appreciate your patience as I maintain the quality and accuracy of the site. Your feedback genuinely helps me prioritise which articles need updating most urgently.

Additional disclaimers

I review a lot of products, and I know how hard it can be to find a site you trust when everyone seems to have ulterior motives, so I want to be clear about how I operate, because I believe transparency builds trust. Although I do reviews, I refuse to be paid for them; I think it’s important to stay as unbiased as possible, and being paid for a review would compromise that. I don’t accept payment in return for reviews, but I will accept free products, because many of the items I review cost hundreds of dollars and it isn’t feasible for me to buy every device myself. When a company provides a product, I make it clear up front that the review will still share my honest thoughts and experience. I do earn money from affiliate links, but I only recommend products I truly believe in.

I always strive to publish information that is accurate, and a lot of research goes into everything I write, but if you do spot an inaccuracy, please email me. These policies keep my reviews honest and trustworthy, even when I receive free products or earn affiliate commissions.

Employment disclosure

I now freelance with AirGradient, a company that produces air quality monitors. This hasn’t influenced how I run the website: AirGradient is extremely transparent and actively encourages me to be transparent too, even when I find flaws in their monitors, and to maintain my independence and honest reviews. I joined them so I could make a meaningful difference through initiatives like their air quality monitoring donations, and so I could keep learning and improve the quality of content here. This relationship lets me contribute to important environmental work while continuing to provide unbiased, honest reviews, and my commitment to transparency remains unchanged.

Affiliate disclaimer

This site takes part in many affiliate programs, and I may earn a commission on purchases you make. Your price stays exactly the same; the commission comes from the seller’s side, and it’s one of the ways I support the blog and keep producing good content. I’ll also never recommend a product I don’t believe in. As one example, BreatheSafeAir is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If you have any questions about these disclosures, please email me; I want to be as transparent as possible and I’m happy to answer.

Ads

As someone who spends a lot of time online, I dislike advertisements, so based on my own experience I’ve decided not to run ads on BreatheSafeAir. That also means I don’t accept sponsored articles, posts or links. Keeping the site ad-free helps me stay independent and provide unbiased reviews, and without ads cluttering the page you can focus on the content that actually matters. If you’d like to support the blog there’s no pressure at all, but you can donate here, which helps me keep creating quality content without relying on intrusive advertising. I believe this approach makes for a better experience while letting me maintain the integrity of my reviews and recommendations.