R Smoggy AF: Your Complete Guide to Pollution in Beijing

Hazy Days: Your Complete Guide to Pollution in Beijing

Margaux Schreurs and Joey Knotts | Feb 12, 2020 1:48 pm | 1 comment | 1006 reads

Whether you're visiting Beijing, moving to Beijing, or already living here, everyone is equally affected by the frequent changes in air quality, and unfortunately, it's usually not always good news. To help you get through it, we've gathered our best articles on the topic of smog. Read on to educate yourself on everything you need to know about those pesky PM2.5 particles that haunt our dreams.

Your mask don't mean shit if It ain't got that fit

We took some of Beijinger's most popular masks for a test run to see just how well they protect your lungs. Almost all masks will block at least some particulate matter (even a simple cotton bandanna), but as we discovered in this post, it's not how much the mask costs that counts – it's really how well (and by well, we mean tightly) a mask fits around your face. The good news is, however, that your mask likely lasts longer than you'd think.

Is your air conditioner bringing polluted air into your home?

The answer is a resounding "maybe." It depends on the type of system that is installed in your home. Different systems can range from bringing in no outside air to bringing in a lot. However, if you have the kind of air conditioner pictured above, chances are that you're pretty safe, according to tests performed by Thomas Talhelm of Smart Air. Click through to read up on the effectiveness of your device.

Plants? More like can'ts!

Heavy-breathing plants may be good for providing your home a little extra oxygen, but when it comes to cleaning your air, they are a non-starter. It turns out that plants are not at all an effective substitute for a real air filter, and they may even release more volatile organic compounds into your home.

What can you do to protect your fluffy babies from the bad air?

We quiz Mary Peng of Beijing-based veterinarians ICVS about the potential effects pollution has on your pets, and how you can protect them from pollution on bad days. “As much as pollution can affect any of us, humans, it has the same dangerous effects on our pets. We see a lot of older animals, and the same concerns that we have for children, the elderly, and the already-compromised, we see those same patients in the animal kingdom," says Peng. Thankfully there are measures you can take at home to reduce the harmful effects of pollution on your pets.

Airing your problems: addressing the mental health effects of pollution

When we talk about air pollution, it’s usually the physical effects we worry about. Yet a growing body of research suggests that we should also be concerned about the impact on our emotional wellbeing. Numerous studies have found a correlation between poor air quality and mental health problems. Because of the complexity of the factors involved, however, scientists are wary of suggesting a direct link.

Save your skin: why you (might) need anti-pollution skincare

If you've been having trouble with dry skin since coming to Beijing, you're not alone. Find out how you can protect and repair your body's largest organ with these skin care tips.

D for dense bones: vitamin D will keep you healthy this winter

Vitamin D is produced naturally in our skin when exposed to the sun, which can be hard to come by when living through Beijing's smoggy winter months. It has an important role in taking the calcium from the food we eat into the body, which is necessary to make our bones strong, our muscles contract, and also helps our body fight against infections, among other things.

Are all air filters made equal?

When shopping for an air filter, do you know what to look for? There are several factors a savvy consumer should consider when it comes to breathing easy at home, including filtration type (what kinds of pollutants will this filter clean?), clean air delivery rate (how much air per square meter does this filter clean per hour?), and detection accuracy (how well can this filter determine when my air needs to be cleaned?).

Keep a close eye on your home's AQI

One particularly nifty PM2.5 particulate measurer is the Beixinqiao-based Laser Egg, which has now practically become a Beijing household item. Learn more about the Laser Egg and its functions inside. If you're looking to buy air filters second hand, check out our classifieds here.