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There seems to be a lot of fuss about air pollution, how we are going to solve it I do not know.
my query is;
If it is as bad as its supposed to be, and especially around schools and where there is lots of traffic in built up zones, Why dont the general public wear masks like some cyclists and motor cyclists?
I mean if its that serious and I was worried about my children, I would make my children wear masks. of course I understand that nobody should have to wear a mask, but I would have thought it the default option for people who are genuinely concerned?
I just dont get it?
face mask won't do anything to stop nitrous oxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide,...
pollution is more than the black particulate matter that turns your bogies grey when cycling / walking around central London
It is bad as is being publicised. However, the surgical masks that are commonly worn in far eastern countries do not provide protection against pollution other than coarsest of particles. You would need a properly face-fitted mask with suitable filter. Action is being taken, but it's multifactorial and is clearly being balanced in the economic, health and environmental arguments. Many places are now legally required to take action by Government. Information can be found on Defra's website and others, eg PHE. There is vast amounts being invested in research on interventions, and we as a public have to face up to the fact that the use of the internal combustion engine, flying etc is the largest contributor to poor AQ.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-health-england-publishes-air-pollution-evidence-review
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-air-pollution/health-matters-air-pollution
https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/committee-on-the-medical-effects-of-air-pollutants-comeap
https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk
I knew there would be an answer, so there are no masks available that lessen the impact at all ?
Not really, the ones you see cyclists using aren't that good really. There is no published evidence (as far as I am aware) that they are protective, not just for ambient air pollution exposures but for other concentrated acute exposures too, unless as I mentioned you get a properly face-fitted mask for example if you need it occupationally. As far as cycling and exercise goes, the act of doing the exercise is of greater benefit overall than the negative effects of air pollution and on a bike you're higher up than the concentrations at road level. Of course if you have a pre-existing health condition it is a very different matter, and that is explained in the Defra information, which is why you see air quality alerts when we have air pollution episodes.