A video highlighting the effectiveness of the N95 mask as a protective tool against high pollution levels has caught people’s attention online. In the video, entrepreneur and paragliding pilot Aneesh Bhasin
first deployed a portable air quality monitor at Mumbai’s Juhu Beach to record a real-time AQI reading. He then placed an N95 mask over the monitor’s air inlet and found that the AQI dropped drastically in a very short time, from 192 to just 37.
Insisting that “N95 masks do work”, Bhasin encouraged people to wear the protective gear to manage outdoor activities and travel requirements amid widespread poor air quality and health risks associated with it. Now, Dr Samir Garde, director, Dept of Pulmonology and Lung Transplant, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, spoke about the N95 masks and whether they are truly sufficient to safeguard against the challenge.
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Expert On N95 Masks
“The higher the AQI number, the worse the air quality. When AQI is below 50, the air is considered good. Between 100 and 200, it becomes unhealthy, especially for children, elderly people, and those with asthma or heart problems. When AQI crosses 300, the air is very harmful and can cause breathing trouble even in healthy people. This is where N95 masks become important,” Dr Garde told the Indian Express.
Speaking over the N95 mask, Dr Garde said the protective oxygen gear is made to filter at least 95 per cent of tiny particles from the air, which includes dust, smoke, and other pollution particles known as PM2.5. “These tiny particles are the most dangerous because they can enter deep into the lungs and even reach the bloodstream. When AQI is above 150, wearing an N95 mask outdoors can help reduce the amount of polluted air you breathe in,” said the health expert.
“It is advantageous during heavy traffic, construction work, or smoggy days. However, the mask must fit properly around the nose and mouth to work well. Loose or damaged masks offer less protection.”
On The Experiment
Focusing on the experiment conducted by the Mumbai resident, Dr Manas Mengar, a consultant in pulmonology at KIMS Hospitals, Thane, said the video reinforced the N95 mask’s filtering qualities. “When you cover the inlet of an AQI monitor with an N95 mask, you filter the air before it reaches the sensor. The air pollution around it stays the same. The mask prevents particles from reaching the device, which means it also has similar effects on the human body,” Dr Mengar said.
Mengar advised people to exercise caution in the matter as N95 masks reduce their exposure to pollution and don’t eliminate the threat. “But don’t confuse protection with a solution,” said Dr Mengar in a warning, especially for the high-risk category featuring children, pregnant women and people with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions.
