Health and Me

Ishita Roy

After Diwali, Air Pollution In Delhi Shoots Up To 100 Times The Limit, Which Mask To Wear For Best Protection?

Surgical Mask (Canva)

N-95 Mask (Canva)

For this year's Delhi, the Supreme Court had lifted the blanket ban on bursting firecrackers, and allowed the citizens to burst green crackers, which emit 30 to 40% less harmful gases. The court also set a time limit between 8pm to 10pm, however, as reports show, Delhiites, very well burst crackers post the 10pm limit. As a result, Delhi pollution shot up 100 times the World Health Organization (WHO) limits, showed the data by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). 

For instance, On Monday 10am, in Nehru Vihar, the level of PM 2.5 was at 1,753 micrograms per meter, which is 116.8 times the WHO permission limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/severe-aqi-in-delhi-why-early-morning-walks-can-be-dangerous-for-senior-citizens-article-153030973" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Severe AQI In Delhi: Why Early Morning Walks Can Be Dangerous For Senior Citizens</a>

In Patparganj area of Delhi, at 4am on Tuesday, the PM 2.5 was recorded at 1,144.8 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 76 times the WHO limit. Similarly, Ashok Vihar reported 1,353 micrograms per cubic meter at 12am on Tuesday, which is over 90 times the WHO limit. 

In such a case, how can someone protect themselves? While pollution has crossed the safe limit, lives haven't stopped, people are still going out for work, and what's important is to wear protective gears to limit exposure to harmful gases in the pollution. 

<h2>Surgical Mask Or N-95: Which One To Choose?</h2>

The answer to this is to wear masks. Now the question that arises is which one? Should we wear a surgical one, that comes in 3-ply protection, or should we go for an N-95 mask?

Dr Sandeep Nayar, Principal Director and HOD of Chest &amp; Respiratory Diseases at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital says that N-95 should be considered. He says that normal surgical masks do not prevent you from getting exposed to smaller pollutants including PM 2.5 particles, which could directly enter your airways and may diffuse into the blood and affect all organs of your body. 

As per the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), a surgical mask is a loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical barrier between the mouth and the nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment. However, the FDA, notes, that they do not filter or block very small particles in the air. 

A surgical mask has a different kind of thickness, and it enables the wearer to be protected from contacts with liquid. It also effects how easily you can breathe. If worn properly, it can block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays, or splatter that could contains germs via viruses or bacteria from reaching your mouth and nose. The main function of a surgical mask is to reduce exposer of saliva and respiratory secretions to others. 

It is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles, notes the FDA. This is what makes it fit for use during high levels of pollution. 

The edges of N-95 are designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth. Some models even have exhalation valves that can make breathing out easier and help reduce the heat build-up. 

As per a 2021 study published in the Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging, the N-95 mask could block "at least 95% of very small test particles". There are various kinds of such masks, called the filtering facepiece respirators or FFRs with various numerical designation like N-95, N-99, N-100, P-95, P-99, P-100, R-95, R-99, and R-100, where the number shows the filter's minimum filtration efficiency. The letters also hold a meaning, for instance the 'N' is for not resistant to oil, 'R' is for somewhat resistant to oil, and 'P' denotes strongly resistant to oil.

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For this year's Delhi, the Supreme Court had lifted the blanket ban on bursting firecrackers, and allowed the citizens to burst green crackers, which emit 30 to 40% less harmful gases. The court also set a time limit between 8pm to 10pm, however, as reports show, Delhiites, very well burst crackers post the 10pm limit. As a result, Delhi pollution shot up 100 times the World Health Organization (WHO) limits, showed the data by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). For instance, On Monday 10am, in Nehru Vihar, the level of PM 2.5 was at 1,753 micrograms per meter, which is 116.8 times the WHO permission limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period.Also Read: Severe AQI In Delhi: Why Early Morning Walks Can Be Dangerous For Senior Citizens In Patparganj area of Delhi, at 4am on Tuesday, the PM 2.5 was recorded at 1,144.8 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 76 times the WHO limit. Similarly, Ashok Vihar reported 1,353 micrograms per cubic meter at 12am on Tuesday, which is over 90 times the WHO limit. In such a case, how can someone protect themselves? While pollution has crossed the safe limit, lives haven't stopped, people are still going out for work, and what's important is to wear protective gears to limit exposure to harmful gases in the pollution. Surgical Mask Or N-95: Which One To Choose?The answer to this is to wear masks. Now the question that arises is which one? Should we wear a surgical one, that comes in 3-ply protection, or should we go for an N-95 mask?Dr Sandeep Nayar, Principal Director and HOD of Chest & Respiratory Diseases at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital says that N-95 should be considered. He says that normal surgical masks do not prevent you from getting exposed to smaller pollutants including PM 2.5 particles, which could directly enter your airways and may diffuse into the blood and affect all organs of your body. What Is A Surgical Mask?As per the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), a surgical mask is a loose-fitting, disposable device that creates a physical barrier between the mouth and the nose of the wearer and potential contaminants in the immediate environment. However, the FDA, notes, that they do not filter or block very small particles in the air. A surgical mask has a different kind of thickness, and it enables the wearer to be protected from contacts with liquid. It also effects how easily you can breathe. If worn properly, it can block large-particle droplets, splashes, sprays, or splatter that could contains germs via viruses or bacteria from reaching your mouth and nose. The main function of a surgical mask is to reduce exposer of saliva and respiratory secretions to others. What Is An N-95 Respirator?It is a respiratory protective device designed to achieve a very close facial fit and very efficient filtration of airborne particles, notes the FDA. This is what makes it fit for use during high levels of pollution. The edges of N-95 are designed to form a seal around the nose and mouth. Some models even have exhalation valves that can make breathing out easier and help reduce the heat build-up. As per a 2021 study published in the Indian Journal of Radiology and Imaging, the N-95 mask could block "at least 95% of very small test particles". There are various kinds of such masks, called the filtering facepiece respirators or FFRs with various numerical designation like N-95, N-99, N-100, P-95, P-99, P-100, R-95, R-99, and R-100, where the number shows the filter's minimum filtration efficiency. The letters also hold a meaning, for instance the 'N' is for not resistant to oil, 'R' is for somewhat resistant to oil, and 'P' denotes strongly resistant to oil.