Do We Need to Change the Type of Masks We Wear?

Most of the residents of Thailand have not stopped wearing a mask even though occurrences of Covid have begun to wane. This unwillingness to abandon masks has been partly out of fear of the virus returning and partly out of common courtesy. But now there’s another reason to keep a supply of masks handy. 

Every year, all over Southeast Asia, farmers burn their fields in preparation for replanting. It’s quick, and it’s cheap as it saves on labor costs. Unfortunately, it’s also horrible for the environment and causes medical issues for millions of people. 

This year the problem is particularly bad, and choking smog blankets the country. With the wealth of face masks still available, what’s the best way to protect ourselves from this yearly problem?

Change Your Masks

Changing your masks frequently was always advisable during the pandemic, but now there’s a new reason to change them. 

During the pandemic, surgical masks were the order of the day, as these masks prevented coughs and sneezes from spreading very far and infecting others. But surgical masks don’t offer much protection from the PM 2.5 pollution blanketing the country these days. 

An N95 respirator offers up to 95% filtration and prevents the PM 2.5 pollution from entering our lungs. But they’re not very practical to wear on a daily basis. They can be difficult for people to breathe through, particularly when people have to exert themselves. 

It’s better to invest in a few good quality, reusable filtering air masks. The best masks have three plies of fabric to filter out the pollutants. They’re also washable. They offer a reasonable amount of protection from both PM 2.5 pollution and Covid. They’re the ideal mask for the next couple of months in Thailand.