Do you know India is home to 13 out of the 15 most polluted cities in the world?
The revelation from a recent study by IQAir has shaken every Indian to a level that most of us are beginning to take measures to stay healthy.
While air purifiers and indoor plants that help in purifying the air are taking care of indoor air, the only solution to keep away from breathing harmful toxins outdoors is an anti-pollution mask.
Air pollutants that are fogged around us are a concoction of chemicals, dust, fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone.
Of these pollutants, PM 10 and PM 2.5 are associated with several chronic and acute illnesses including that of the cardiovascular, respiratory and immune system.
A report by Global Health Observatory (GHO) states that 8% of COPD, 15% of heart diseases and a whopping 25% of the lung cancer deaths are caused PM 10 and PM 2.5 alone.
The statistics are mind-numbing, to say the least. While controlling emissions is not in our hands to a large extent, keeping ourselves protected through an anti-pollution mask is.
With a plethora of options available in the market, making a choice is certainly difficult. Here we have made choosing the right anti-pollution mask easy.
Get the Right Type
Your journey towards choosing the right anti-pollution mask can be confusing given the number of masks available in the market. From simple surgical style to large gas masks, you will have many to choose from.
Evaluate the pollution level in your area and accordingly choose the one that will offer maximum protection. N-95 and N-99 masks the best options for places where there is non-oil based fine particulate matter.
Anti-pollution masks with N-95 rating effectively filter 95% of PM 2.5, while those with N-99 rating filter 99% of PM 2.5. If you live in a city with a higher level of pollution, choose an N-100 mask to filter out 99.97% of PM 2.5.
Choose Utility Over Style
Analyze your usage pattern to identify the kind of mask you will need. For example, if you like morning runs, a heavy-duty mask that filters out maximum pollutants is right for you.
On the other hand, for those who mostly stay indoors or head out for limited runs, opting for a lighter one that is geared towards portability and convenience will work well.
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Buy Only If It Fits Well
When buying an air mask, ensure that it fits perfectly over the nose, mouth, and chin. Even if the fitting is slightly disoriented, it may allow harmful pollutants to find a way to your nose and mouth.
Thus, cancelling out all the hard work put in by the mask. Advisable is to choose a mask that comes with adjustable straps.
Don’t Compromise on Quality
You might be drawn to buy the cheapest one, but you must know that the surgical ones are not effective in fighting harmful pollutants.
Further, they are not reusable, and you might end up buying a new one every six to ten days. Invest in a reusable one to do your bit for the environment as well.
Look for the Certification
Without a doubt, certified masks speak volumes of their authenticity. When buying a mask, look for certifications like EN 149:2001+A1:2009 FFP2 R and Personal Protective Equipment by CE.
Keep Your Health Intact with an Air Pollution Mask
The use of an effective anti-pollution mask can go a long way in combating rising pollution. Resellers like BreatheEasy have a wide range of anti-pollution masks that come with triple-layer filtration system, adjustable nose clip and are treated with silver to protect from bacteria and virus.
Anti-pollution masks from BreatheEasy have the same technology as used by the British Military. So, when it comes to keeping yourself protected from the adverse effects of pollution, choose only the best.
Image Credits: Google Images
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