Face mask that has a filtered exhalation valve

A filtering face mask that comprises:

• (a) a mask body;
• (b) an exhalation valve that is disposed on the mask body and that has at least one orifice that allows exhaled air to pass from an interior gas space to an exterior gas space during an exhalation;
• and
• (c) an exhale filter element that does not also serve as an inhale filter element and that is disposed in the face mask's exhale flow stream downstream to the exhalation valve orifice to prevent contaminants from passing from the interior gas space to the exterior gas space with the exhaled air.

A filtering face mask that comprises:

• (a) a mask body that includes a fibrous inhale filter element;
• (b) an exhalation valve (i) that is disposed on the mask body, (ii) that has a valve seat and a flexible flap wherein the valve seat has a seal surface onto which the flap rests when closed and from which the flap lifts from and dynamically bends in response to an exhalation, and (iii) that has at least one orifice that allows exhaled air to pass from an interior gas space to an exterior gas space during the exhalation;
• and
• (c) an exhale filter element that does not also serve as the inhale filter element and that is disposed in the face mask's exhale flow stream to prevent contaminants from passing from the interior gas space to the exterior gas space with the exhaled air.