How to Deal With Hong Kong’s Pollution When You Have Kids
Friday, August 18, 2017
Every day, another post on Hong Kong Moms decrying Hong Kong’s horribly polluted air, and it’s no wonder. If you’re a stay-at-home parent of small children, it can be hell to be stuck indoors in a tiny apartment 24 hours a day, with the air conditioner eating electricity.
The WHO estimate that air pollution contributes to three million deaths annually. Medical advice warns us that air pollution is one of the ‘avoidable’ heart risk factors we need to steer clear of, to protect ourselves from cardiovascular disease. “Cardiovascular disease is a huge global problem, causing immense suffering and premature death, as well as placing severe strain on national healthcare budgets and/or family finances,” said Dr. Robert Storey, a professor of cardiology at the University of Sheffield in the UK and senior author of the new position paper. Air pollution causes more than 3 million deaths worldwide each year and causes 3.1 percent of all cases of disability, Storey and his coauthors write in the European Heart Journal.
So what can be done?
Some medical advice for people to protect themselves is as simple as walking, cycling and using public transportation instead of driving cars, though in Hong Kong this advice would seem to be counter-intuitive since walking and cycling most often occur on the same roads bearing polluting vehicles. Luckily, our MTR system is efficient and takes us under and away from air pollution.
Exercising in parks or gardens, rather than near busy roads, is also advised. However, again this would not be advisable in Hong Kong unless the parks or gardens were well away from roads, and were in well-ventilated, open spaces.
And everyone should avoid being outside when pollution is highest, though this is especially important for infants, elderly and people with heart problems, experts say. Keep an eye on the Hong Kong Observatory daily air quality index ( http://www.aqhi.gov.hk/tc.html ) for warnings.
People who live in heavily polluted areas should also consider ventilation systems with filtration in their homes, since a large portion of outdoor pollution can penetrate buildings. This means home air filters and purifiers.
Hot weather and storms can also see air pollution worsen, as sunshine and storm activity enhances photochemical smog activity and the formation of ozone and fine particulates during the daytime, so avoid taking young children out during these times.
What about masks?
Finding a mask that will not only fit over little heads but filter out the highest number of particulate matter is a big worry for many parents. Filtering and fit are the key to an effective pollution mask, says Benjamin Barrett, a lecturer in Air Quality Science at King's College, London.
"Generally speaking, there are two reasons why mask can or can't work -- one is the size of the particles they are able to filter out and the other is the fit on the face. If it's leaking in from the side it's not going to work," says Barrett.
When measuring the amount of pollution in the air, scientists refer to particulate matter, also called PM followed by a number relating to its size. "It's any form of particle which are small enough to be breathed into the body," Barrett explains. "We sometimes call it PM 2.5 -- [which has a diameter of 2.5 micrometers] and is small enough to get down into the lungs."
"Chemically, that can be all sorts of different things depending on where they've come from. Any combustion process produces particles whether it's vehicles, heating for the home -- power generation will produce them. "Also, other processes in the atmosphere create particles by reaction -- that's called secondary particles. Some of the gases vehicles produce, react in the atmosphere and form nitrates, liquid particles rather than metal or carbon particles."
For those who insist on using a mask, we found Cambridge Masks (https://cambridgemask.com), a UK-based company producing military grade masks that come in adjustable sizes from XS (6-10kg body weight) to XL (90+ kg bodyweight). Their masks are N99 tested, meaning it filters out 99% of particulate matter, as opposed to the next level down - N95 - and filters out dust, pollution particles such as PM10, PM2.5 and PM0.3 as well as bacteria and viruses using a unique triple layer filtration system. The first layer catches larger pollution particles such as dust and PM10, followed by the Three-Ply Micro Particulate Filter which stops nearly 100% of smaller particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM0.3. The last layer has been developed by UK’s Ministry of Defence and filters out viruses and gas pollution such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Ozone, Benzathine and Formaldehyde. Their masks have also been treated with silver, which means it blocks and kills 99.77% of micro particles such as airborne bacteria.
My kids are driving me crazy! What can I do?
So what activities can you do to keep your kids busy? Here are our top 3 picks:
1. Teach them some useful life skills by doing age-appropriate chores like vacuuming the floor, or cleaning the bathroom, or helping to prepare the family meal - not only will they learn valuable skills, but this helps develop their character. Learn more about why character education is essential here!
2. Give them a reading challenge! Get them thinking about the value of stories by reading more, and afterwards get them to choose any old, but well-conditioned books to donate to charity shops, libraries or children’s hospitals.
3. Declutter! The terrible weather is the perfect time to ‘Kondo’ any items you no longer use or need. Explain to your children the importance of charity and looking after their possessions. Not only does this help to declutter your Hong Kong home, but will give them a sense of pride in helping others. Items such as books, shoes, clothes, bags and toys that are in good-condition and clean will be welcome by charities such as the Salvation Army, Crossroads Foundation, Love 21, and Christian Action.
If you’re interested in more exciting sensory activities to do with your child at home, subscribe to Hong Kong Kindergarten: Mighty Oaks idea of the month Youtube channel.
➡【Join our Mighty Oaks family!/ 快來加入奧恩大家庭】
➡【 Sign up for Acorn Trial Class now!/Acorn 試堂優惠】
The WHO estimate that air pollution contributes to three million deaths annually. Medical advice warns us that air pollution is one of the ‘avoidable’ heart risk factors we need to steer clear of, to protect ourselves from cardiovascular disease. “Cardiovascular disease is a huge global problem, causing immense suffering and premature death, as well as placing severe strain on national healthcare budgets and/or family finances,” said Dr. Robert Storey, a professor of cardiology at the University of Sheffield in the UK and senior author of the new position paper. Air pollution causes more than 3 million deaths worldwide each year and causes 3.1 percent of all cases of disability, Storey and his coauthors write in the European Heart Journal.
So what can be done?
Some medical advice for people to protect themselves is as simple as walking, cycling and using public transportation instead of driving cars, though in Hong Kong this advice would seem to be counter-intuitive since walking and cycling most often occur on the same roads bearing polluting vehicles. Luckily, our MTR system is efficient and takes us under and away from air pollution.
Exercising in parks or gardens, rather than near busy roads, is also advised. However, again this would not be advisable in Hong Kong unless the parks or gardens were well away from roads, and were in well-ventilated, open spaces.
And everyone should avoid being outside when pollution is highest, though this is especially important for infants, elderly and people with heart problems, experts say. Keep an eye on the Hong Kong Observatory daily air quality index ( http://www.aqhi.gov.hk/tc.html ) for warnings.
People who live in heavily polluted areas should also consider ventilation systems with filtration in their homes, since a large portion of outdoor pollution can penetrate buildings. This means home air filters and purifiers.
Hot weather and storms can also see air pollution worsen, as sunshine and storm activity enhances photochemical smog activity and the formation of ozone and fine particulates during the daytime, so avoid taking young children out during these times.
What about masks?
Finding a mask that will not only fit over little heads but filter out the highest number of particulate matter is a big worry for many parents. Filtering and fit are the key to an effective pollution mask, says Benjamin Barrett, a lecturer in Air Quality Science at King's College, London.
"Generally speaking, there are two reasons why mask can or can't work -- one is the size of the particles they are able to filter out and the other is the fit on the face. If it's leaking in from the side it's not going to work," says Barrett.
When measuring the amount of pollution in the air, scientists refer to particulate matter, also called PM followed by a number relating to its size. "It's any form of particle which are small enough to be breathed into the body," Barrett explains. "We sometimes call it PM 2.5 -- [which has a diameter of 2.5 micrometers] and is small enough to get down into the lungs."
"Chemically, that can be all sorts of different things depending on where they've come from. Any combustion process produces particles whether it's vehicles, heating for the home -- power generation will produce them. "Also, other processes in the atmosphere create particles by reaction -- that's called secondary particles. Some of the gases vehicles produce, react in the atmosphere and form nitrates, liquid particles rather than metal or carbon particles."
For those who insist on using a mask, we found Cambridge Masks (https://cambridgemask.com), a UK-based company producing military grade masks that come in adjustable sizes from XS (6-10kg body weight) to XL (90+ kg bodyweight). Their masks are N99 tested, meaning it filters out 99% of particulate matter, as opposed to the next level down - N95 - and filters out dust, pollution particles such as PM10, PM2.5 and PM0.3 as well as bacteria and viruses using a unique triple layer filtration system. The first layer catches larger pollution particles such as dust and PM10, followed by the Three-Ply Micro Particulate Filter which stops nearly 100% of smaller particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM0.3. The last layer has been developed by UK’s Ministry of Defence and filters out viruses and gas pollution such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Ozone, Benzathine and Formaldehyde. Their masks have also been treated with silver, which means it blocks and kills 99.77% of micro particles such as airborne bacteria.
My kids are driving me crazy! What can I do?
So what activities can you do to keep your kids busy? Here are our top 3 picks:
1. Teach them some useful life skills by doing age-appropriate chores like vacuuming the floor, or cleaning the bathroom, or helping to prepare the family meal - not only will they learn valuable skills, but this helps develop their character. Learn more about why character education is essential here!
2. Give them a reading challenge! Get them thinking about the value of stories by reading more, and afterwards get them to choose any old, but well-conditioned books to donate to charity shops, libraries or children’s hospitals.
3. Declutter! The terrible weather is the perfect time to ‘Kondo’ any items you no longer use or need. Explain to your children the importance of charity and looking after their possessions. Not only does this help to declutter your Hong Kong home, but will give them a sense of pride in helping others. Items such as books, shoes, clothes, bags and toys that are in good-condition and clean will be welcome by charities such as the Salvation Army, Crossroads Foundation, Love 21, and Christian Action.
If you’re interested in more exciting sensory activities to do with your child at home, subscribe to Hong Kong Kindergarten: Mighty Oaks idea of the month Youtube channel.
➡【Join our Mighty Oaks family!/ 快來加入奧恩大家庭】
➡【 Sign up for Acorn Trial Class now!/Acorn 試堂優惠】
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