{"id":4738,"date":"2017-10-10T04:41:29","date_gmt":"2017-10-09T20:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/?p=4738"},"modified":"2024-03-05T23:43:21","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T15:43:21","slug":"npr-got-masks-facts-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/zh\/blog\/npr-got-masks-facts-wrong\/","title":{"rendered":"NPR Got These Facts About Masks Wrong"},"content":{"rendered":"

As wildfires were raging across the American West this summer, NPR ran a story<\/a> on pollution masks people can use to protect themselves from all that air pollution.<\/p>\n

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As a non-expert nerd who has dedicated years to understanding how to live under Beijing\u2019s particulate cloud, I was eager to see what the story got right and what the story might be missing. Here\u2019s my rundown:<\/p>\n

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\"\"1. “When you inhale these really small particles, smaller than a few microns, they can land in your lungs and cause respiratory symptoms.” They can even pass into your bloodstream.<\/h4>\n

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That\u2019s right! Scientists are generally more concerned about the small particles. And if they\u2019re really small, there’s evidence they can even enter our bloodstream<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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2. For people who have underlying heart conditions or respiratory illnesses \u2014 such as asthma or chronic lung disease \u2014 exposure to wildfire smoke can be serious.<\/h4>\n

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Believe it or not, the World Health Organization estimates that particulate air pollution kills a LOT more people every year through heart attacks<\/a> than it does through lung problems like lung cancer or emphysema.<\/p>\n

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\"Air<\/p>\n

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It’s not just a long-term problem. It’s an acute problem too. Studies have found more people have heart attacks on days with bad air pollution<\/a>. That means people with heart conditions should be especially careful. (Zolpidem<\/a>) <\/p>\n

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3. The best way for everyone to minimize the risk when skies are smoky is to stay inside.<\/h4>\n

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I\u2019ve seen many people question this logic<\/a>. Our air indoors comes from outdoors, so isn\u2019t it just the same as outdoor air?<\/p>\n

The data says \u201cno.\u201d In my tests in Shanghai,<\/a> Beijing<\/a>, and Delhi<\/a>, indoor air had 50-60% of the particulate<\/a> compared to outdoor air. The US EPA found a similar number<\/a> in their much more rigorous tests.<\/p>\n

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4. A standard dust mask that you can buy at the pharmacy won’t do you much good\u2026it won’t filter out the microscopic particles that can get into your lungs.<\/h4>\n

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Wrong! This is a common misconception that other outlets like Greenpeace have repeated<\/a>. Scientists have tested surgical masks agains really tiny particles, and the results are surprising<\/a>. Surgical masks in Beijing captured 80% of particles<\/a> particles down to .007 microns.<\/p>\n

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\"Surgical<\/p>\n

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Surgical masks aren\u2019t as good at sealing around the face, but even in fit tests<\/a> (1<\/a>, 2<\/a>, 3<\/a>), surgical masks block close to 100% of particles at 1 micron. Even cheap 25-cent surgical masks that researchers bought on the streets of Nepal captured over 60%<\/a> of particles at .03 microns. That\u2019s really far from \u201cwon\u2019t filter out.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Of course it\u2019s better to wear a mask designed for air pollution, like any of these masks I personally fit-tested in Beijing<\/a> or these masks Smart Air tested in India<\/a>. But this point about surgical masks is important because:<\/p>\n