• Question: Are mask safe from air pollution?

    Asked by anon-268328 to Katherine on 12 Nov 2020.
    • Photo: Katherine Manfred

      Katherine Manfred answered on 12 Nov 2020:

      Hi Jayden,

      Great question! If you’re wondering whether wearing a mask over your nose and mouth protects you from air pollution the answer is…yes and no.

      According to the World Health Organization (WHO) – and many other groups – there are six main types of air pollution that can make us unhealthy. Four of these are gases in the air so – just like oxygen – we can inhale them through the mask when we breathe.

      The other two are particles – tiny bits of solid or liquid material that float around in the air. Whenever you “see” pollution – like smoke from fires or exhaust from cars – you’re seeing these little particles in the air. Viruses are also particles, often a very similar size to, for example, smoke particles. So if you have a mask that does a good job at keeping out the virus, it will also keep out other particles that can make you unhealthy!

Comments