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The latest data show that Poland is at the forefront of air polluters. The first place belongs to Bulgaria, the infamous second to us, the third to the Greeks. Whenever smog attacks, the number of patients in hospitals grows sharply. Due to diseases caused by air pollution, 476 die every year. Europeans, including almost 50 thousand. Poles. What neutralizes smog? And what to do to make walking and jogging in the park really beneficial for our health?
- The chemical compounds that make up smog, in combination with dust and high humidity, can cause allergic and asthmatic reactions
- Future mothers breathing smog must take into account the health problems of the fetus and its reduced weight. Children born in smog-prone regions are also more likely to suffer from lung disease
- The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection inspected anti-smog masks available on the Polish market and it turned out that some of them do not have any protective properties and allow harmful dusts to pass.
Fear to breathe
In Poland, fear is not only afraid, but also fear to breathe. According to a report by the European Environment Agency (EEA), we are at the forefront of air pollutants. The first place belongs to Bulgaria, the infamous second to us, the third to the Greeks. Due to diseases caused by air pollution, 476 die every year. Europeans, including almost 50 thousand. Poles. What harms us the most? PM10 and PM2,5 dusts, as well as carcinogenic chemicals, mainly benzo (a) pyrene. These substances have a very bad effect on our lungs (asthma, respiratory system infections), the circulatory system (shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, increased risk of heart attack and stroke) and the nervous system (problems with memory, attention and concentration) . Pregnant women (prematurity, low weight gain), the elderly, children and asthmatics are at risk. What can you do for the population? Take care of the quality of raw materials burned in furnaces and reduce the emission of car exhaust fumes. What can you do for yourself? The same plus taking our anti-smog self-defense course …
Smog SOS
First, check the pollution standards before going outside. Information on the air condition is provided by the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection – just go to the website bilety.gios.gov.pl or download the mobile application: Air Quality in Poland. The data includes concentration measurements of such substances as: PM2,5 dust, PM10 dust, ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide. If the values are above the norm, definitely avoid walking, jogging and cycling. For the second one, invest in an anti-smog mask, but not just any one. The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection took a closer look at products available on the Polish market and it turned out that some of them do not have any protective properties! How not to get bumble then? First of all, pay attention to the protection class of the filter and the appropriate adjustment to the size and shape of the face.
Dr. Piotr Dąbrowiecki, in an interview with MedTvoiLokony, explains in detail which mask to choose: «One that actually protects against particulate matter, that is specialist, marked with the symbols PM 10 or PM 2,5. It costs about PLN 50 and is really worth buying ».
There is one “but” – bacteria, viruses and toxic compounds from which the inhaled air is cleaned must settle somewhere. So, unless it is a disposable mask, the filter must be checked, maintained and replaced. How often? Depending on the type, after 20 – 50 hours, 2 weeks, maximum 69 days of use. Is there a better solution? Yes – anti-smog masks with mechanisms that biodegrade pollution. Both a revolution and a revelation.
Who and when should actually inform us that we are starting to breathe something that can lead to cancer?
– PM10 dust concentrations in excess of 300 micrograms per cubic meter are an alarm value. The provincial environmental protection inspectorate then informs the relevant crisis management team about this exceeding, and it is he who is responsible for informing the public about the situation, says Barbara Toczko from the Chief Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in an interview with MedTvoiLokony. He adds that it is the role of local authorities to warn residents that spending that day outdoors is risky to health.
Swiss precision
– Biodegradation is actually a commonly used process, e.g. in biological air purifiers, sewage treatment plants or landfills, where all pollutants are decomposed while maintaining an appropriate temperature. The skillful transfer of the process to the filters of anti-smog masks was therefore its clever and accurate application. Thanks to Swiss biotechnologists who developed this type of natural and protective mechanism, each of us can use it for our own use – explains Gabriela Bogaty, representative of the manufacturer of U-Mask, anti-smog masks, which were tested by journalists of the Medonet editorial office during jogging. How it’s working? The mask creates an electrostatic field, and the moisture generated by breathing additionally activates its internal bioactive layer. The generated neutral polymer field attracts pollutants like a magnet, blocks their flow to the respiratory system and – most importantly – destroys them in the process of bioxidation. Only non-oxidized elements remain on the filter, which are not harmful to our health. The only drawback is the price, but considering that the filter needs to be replaced once a year, it pays off. I know what you want to ask: is it possible to function in it? We checked user reviews and most praise modern design, comfort and functionality. Active in a’la tiger masks run and ride bikes, hipsters in striped ones still hang out in cafe gardens, even fashion bloggers have become convinced of the houndstooth or leopard print versions. The only complaints are glasses with glasses misting up quickly.
In a pot and on a plate
You should always have an anti-smog mask with you outside the home, but what about polluted air that gets inside? If you want to sleep peacefully, surround yourself with green. Plants have been proven to act as natural filters by deactivating many toxins and waves from electronic devices invisible to the naked eye. Additionally, they eliminate the adverse effects of microorganisms and allergens. Bet on dracaena, ficus, ivy, ferns and wing flowers. Another idea is an air purifier that not only absorbs dust from the outside, but also eliminates bacteria and viruses. Finally, man does not live by air alone, i.e. what to eat to neutralize the influence of harmful substances? First of all, products that provide antioxidants that fight free radicals. Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and raw cauliflower are particularly effective. Research has shown that their consumption significantly reduces the risk of developing diseases caused by smog. All because of sulforaphane – a powerful antioxidant that stimulates detoxifying enzymes to eliminate harmful substances from the body. That’s it – to calmly breathe dirty air.
How to properly put on U-mask Premium?
1. After taking the filter out of its packaging, place it in the colored mask.
2. Unfold the filter:
Place the top of the filter on the nose, press down on the built-in nose clip so that the mask fits snugly.
Place the bottom of the filter under your chin.
The graphics will show you how to properly match your mask!
3. Choose from the included 3 sets of elastic bands for the ears, the right length for you so that the mask is conveniently and comfortably fitted to your face.
If some elastics are too short and others are too long, the longer ones should be threaded through the holes twice, as shown in the attached graphic. Adjust it so that you are comfortable – then the mask will be comfortable and you will not even feel that you are wearing it.
The price of the U-Mask Standard mask (one-year-old, without a replaceable filter) – PLN 149, children’s size (patterned, with replaceable filters) – PLN 255. The most important thing is that the mask should have a filter that retains suspended dust, i.e. it should have the symbol PM 2,5 PM 10. If you do not want the protection to be designer, you can buy such masks for PLN 50-100.