Since Singapore’s air quality has deteriorated into the hazardous zone, I’ve decided to repost a comment I’ve posted on The Economist earlier this year when I poignantly looked at photos of Chinese citizens wearing normal masks trying to defend themselves against air pollution. I made an observation and a recommendation, and the comment became relatively popular on the website. I’ve modified it slightly to fit Singapore’s context: Particularly in Singapore where and when the PM 2.5 level hovers around the “hazardous” level, normal masks have no effect against particles less than 2.5 micrometres. Only air-tight masks, alias N95 masks can protect one from harmful air particles invading your internal organs. I removed the following paragraph because Singapore’s PM 2.5 levels are hazardous but it is not high enough to compel you to wear a N95 mask. Nonetheless, most people can’t take the suffocating feeling caused by N95 masks. I’ve tried wearing once while I had a severe lung condition and trust me, you won’t wear it unless you have some medical issues or you are suffering from hypochondriasis. “If you don’t want to get bronchitis, blood toxicity, blood coagulation abnormalities, cardiotoxicity, placental blood toxicity that directly harms the fetus (warning to pregnant women out there), intrauterine growth retardation, or low birth weight of babies, then buy your N95 masks now.” The repercussions are quite extreme, but medically proven to be possible judging by the toxic air in some parts of China, not Singapore. You can possibly get bronchitis in Singapore which is very common.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:15:55 +0000
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