Health masks not necessary for healthy adults, children at poor ultrafine particle levels

It's quite common for people in South Korea to buy face masks to protect themselves from fine dust pollution,... which unfortunately is a big problem here.To help the public arm themselves with even more information, the National Council on Climate and Air Quality has put forward guidance as to when to wear masks and when to avoid outdoor activities.Park Se-young has more.The negative effects of fine dust on health have long been known.This is why many people choose to wear face masks when fine dust levels soar.However, the standards as to when to wear masks and when to avoid outdoor activities have been very vague.This is why the National Council on Climate and Air Quality has come up with public action recommendations for fine dust.Healthy adults and children do not need to put on health masks even when there are poor ultrafine dust levels, …as long as the concentration is under 50 micrograms per cubic meter.The standard for outdoor activities, which used to be restricted on polluted days, has also been eased for the healthy group.Vulnerable groups like the elderly, pregnant women and people with lung conditions are still advised to put on health masks when there is poor air quality."An ultrafine dust concentration of 50 micrograms per cubic meter is bad. However, recommending face masks or restricting physical activity can cause other health problems."Experts added that it's also better to ventilate indoor areas even on polluted days.They recommend three ten-minute ventilation periods a day.Park Se-young, Arirang News.