When coming to Beijing, or anywhere in China for that matter, it is hard not to notice the smog. As you walk out of your apartment, hotel, or hostel, you judge the day by the level of smog. Clear blue skies and high visibility- it’s going to be a good day! Grayness and barely able to see down the street- better stay inside.
This is the everyday reality for Beijingers. Except on bad days, some might throw on a mask and go about their day as usual. Winter brings about the worst smog. Since I am currently staying in Beijing for the next 3 weeks, I decided to invest in a permanent mask. (Before I only used temporary masks.) But before just going out and buying what’s “hot” in the mask market, I decided to do my research on which mask would be best for me.
And, boy I’m glad I did. Wearing a mask isn’t about style but protection. See, one of the most important components of buying a mask pertains to the filter and close fit. Simply by walking down the crowded sidewalks, I’ve noticed that most Chinese people wear surgical masks. Based upon the research I did, these are completely useless. First, a surgical mask has no filter to actually prevent you from breathing in the polluted air. Second, it does not have a tight fit near the bridge of the nose and side of the face which allows polluted air in.
The mask I wanted is called the Vogmask and fulfills both these requirements. However, I learned that these effective masks are very difficult to come by in China. Actually, most effective masks are difficult to come by. Most foreigners buy them before they come to China.
After thoroughly looking online, I found one (and only one) store in downtown Beijing that carried them. I got on the subway. Got lost for 2 hours. Found the store. Paid $30 for the mask. Then Left.
This was a huge hassle to buy something that every Beijinger (arguably every Chinese person) should wear.
So why does China have smog? Where does it come from? What is the government doing now to decrease it?
As I watch CCTV (state supported news station), I see many reports about the smog. The reports didn’t talk so much about where the smog comes from but what Chinese people should be doing to decrease it. Well this is good news! Let’s get the people involved to improve this horrible health concern.
What is the solution you ask? Decreasing the use of fireworks and preventing the purchase of too many cars in crowded cities. Yup. The reason why 11 year olds are getting diagnosed with lung cancer (primarily due to pollution) is because of firecrackers and cars.
It has nothing to do with the fact that 68% of energy in China comes from coal (rfa.org). Or the fact that China is the largest coal user in the world (worldcoal.org). Yup it’s those darn firecrackers and cars. PM2.5, those tiny bad particulates that float in the air until they get lodged deep in your lungs never to resurface again (thinkprogress.org), has nothing to do with predominate coal usage in the country.
So until China decreases the consumption of evil fireworks (just in time for Chinese New Year) and gets all the cars off the road- then I’m stuck wearing this mask.
