Why use face masks in the presence of an environmental contingency

The Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis reported that on Tuesday, March 29, maximum ozone concentrations of 162 ppb and 156 ppb were recorded at monitoring stations located in Santa Fe and La Merced.

With the aim of reducing the population's exposure to polluted air and the risk of affecting health, the Environmental Commission of the Megalopolis activated phase 1 of environmental contingency by ozone which was suspended this Wednesday afternoon.

This prompted the organization to specify the actions to be implemented to reduce the concentration of ozone in CDMX, some of which were to avoid physical, cultural activities, recreation and outdoor exercise.

During the contingency, all outdoor activities organized by public institutions were also suspended and it was recommended not to smoke indoors and keep informed about air quality, however, a question arose among the population: is it necessary to use face masks in the face of atmospheric contingency?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year 249 thousand people die from diseases attributable to poor air quality in the world.

An article from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) where specialist Ana Rosa Moreno, from the Faculty of Medicine, participated, explained that the best recommendation is to stay at home and close sales since the mask does not serve to stop particles as small as those found in the air during the contingency by ozone.

“Face coverings are definitely useless because the opening of the fabric is not enough to filter out such small particles.”

The polluting particles involved in the atmospheric contingency have damaged the population for many years, since they are smaller than 2.5 micrometers they are able to pass through the mask. The specialist specified that there are some masks that could be used in atmospheric contingency, however, they are very expensive and very difficult to find in Mexico.

It is important to note that according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the independent executive body of the United States federal government responsible for environmental protection issues, mentioned that children, people over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart or lung conditions (including asthma) are more sensitive to the effects of respiration on fine particles, so in them it is necessary to wear masks.

The specialist explains that it is advisable for people to stay in their homes, especially the most vulnerable, as they are at risk of aggravating their situation. In case of going out, it will be necessary to wear a mask.

So far, the health secretary Hugo López Gatell, specified that due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its variants, it is necessary to wear masks in closed spaces. Therefore, it is important that, even if the country is in atmospheric contingency, in public transport, as well as in closed places, the mask is used to prevent the spread of covid-19 and its variants.

It is important that citizens raise awareness of this type of situation, since climate change, forest fires, the use of cars, the burning of garbage and tires, as well as the health consequences of the covid-19 pandemic, are factors that put the entire population at risk, especially the most vulnerable.

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