Effective Mask Depending On The Type

Disasters caused by fire smog in some woods and fields in Riau until recently have not been defeated. To reduce the impact of bad smog for the health, the residents handed out masks. Besides the several towns in Sumatra and Batam, Singapore and Malaysia also appear to be wearing masks while traveling outside the home. According to dr.Agus Dwisusanto, Lung specialists, the wearing of a mask can indeed inhibit the entry of smoke and small particles carried by the smoke got into the airway. However, the absence of effective mask depending on the type of mask used. "The usual Masks only inhibits the entry of particles, while the gas-burning results could not be impeded," he said when contacted by the Kompas.com on Tuesday (25/6/13). 

To prevent adverse effects of smog pollutants, Agus recommend using special mask that had the ability to filter out pollutants to over 90 percent. "The masks have an usable category n. decimal code N indicates the ability of the air filter masks, e.g., N 95 means that can filter up to 95 percent," said doctor consultant pulmonary disease work and environmental Pulmonology Department of Persahabatan Hospital Jakarta. 

Components in the smoke can be inhaled to lower airway (throat to lungs), is the size below 10 microns. "If regular mask can only filter large particles, which are small will breathes let alone gas," he said. Were with dr.Agus, according to dr.Nastiti Kaswandani, from children's Health Science Department , masks can help reduces the ill effects of pollutants, especially if used continuously. "But it should be understood that the particles are inhaled will surely remain smooth," he said. Residents who lived in the area of smog are also advised to close Windows and reduce the time of travel outside the home.Therefore to ensure public health, the best course is to extinguish the fire source.