Anti-pollution masks see a rise in demand

Anti-pollution masks see a rise in demand

As Bangalore's air gets more polluted, pharmacies are seeing an increase in the number of people buying masks

Soumita Majumdar. Bangalore

When considering the pollution levels in Bangalore, it seems that an anti-pollution mask is a must. The fact that there has been an increase in the sale of such masks just proves it. Many pharmacies in the city get at least four to six people, every week, enquiring about anti-pollution masks. There are two kinds of anti-pollution masks - disposable, for regular use, and high filtration ones. "The regular use-and-throw masks are more popular and fast-moving among bikers. These cost around Rs65 and are disposable after three to four months. However, the ones with high filtration capacity are washable and last for over a year. These are priced at around Rs250 to Rs300, depending on the brand. These masks are mainly prescribed by doctors," says Anubhav Cherian, a salesperson at Religare Wellness. "Bangalore once used to be a green city. But now the pollution levels have increased. There is no escape from the pollution, dirt and dust particles. So I prefer wearing a mask before rolling down the window of my car," says Srinivas Khargaraju, a 45-year-old software professional. An anti-pollution mask is compulsory for people with asthma or those suffering from dust allergies. "Also, it is advisable for people like traffic police, construction site workers, and two-wheeler riders, who are constantly exposed to the environment, to use anti-pollution masks," says Dr Vishwanath Balled, a pulmonologist at the BGS Global Hospital. These days, a lot of parents prefer to have their children wear anti-pollution masks too. "I don't want to expose my little one to the pollution and dust at such an early age. Her school is near Kanakpura road, and it's a 45-minute drive from our home," says Sandhya P, mother of a seven-year-old. Doctors, however, say that unless the child is asthmatic, masks are of little use. "Masks act as handkerchiefs in holding back the sand and big dust particles, though it doesn't help to avoid bacteria and microscopic pollutants," says Dr Preethi Galgali, a paediatrician. "It is important to have your child wear an anti-pollution mask before dusting the house if he/she is prone to dust allergies or asthma," she adds.