Pollution Masks: N, R or P

The way ahead: Indoor Pollution Prevention Update

• Add more pollution fighting plants to your décor in the room, roof or balcony.
• Plants are a source of fresh air and some examples include Areca Palm, Sensivera, Mother-in-Law’s Tongue and Money Plant.
• Avoid smoking inside the house and ensure that toxic gases and substances are not released indoors during hot/cold variations in temperature indoors.
• Taking precautions such as fixing of leakages, maintenance repairs to prevent loss of heat/ cold indoors will ensure better air quality inside.
• Appliances like your refrigerator and oven can emit harmful gases without regular maintenance. Make sure you service them at regular intervals.
• Regular dusting is important. Every home is prone to dust and dirt accumulation. While you clean your floors and upholstery regularly, you might miss out on the nooks and corners and the roof of tall furniture sets. Use wet mopping of the floor.
• Minimize the use of pesticides at home. Use bio-friendly products instead. Limiting the number of toxic products introduced into indoor air will also make the space as less polluted as possible.
• Pour water in any mud outside the house or grow grass in these areas.
• Use air filters if affordable
• Add greenery in RWA
• Adequate exhausts for proper ventilation

(Inputs Manoj Sharma)

Pollution Masks: N, R or P

N, R, and Pare NIOSH certification categories that apply to negative pressure air-purifying respirators that protect against respiratory particulates. They do not apply to powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs). The particulate respirator will have an N, R, or P designation along with an efficiency rating such as 95, 99, or 100.

N: When no oil is present in the air; R when oil is present, but only for a single shift or 8 hours of continuous or intermittent use. Re-use beyond a single shift or 8 hours is not recommended. P when oil is present and can be reused and used for longer time.

In 100, the filter is expected to trap 99.97 particles out of every 100 and is as efficient as a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter; in 99, The filter is expected to trap 99 particles out of every 100 and 95 The filter will trap 95 particles out of every 100 of at least 0.3 micrometers.

Video to watch: TEDx Video: 

Doctor-patient relationship www.youtube(dot)com/ watch?v=i9ml1vKK2DQ

Dr KK Aggarwal
Padma Shri Awardee
President Elect CMAAO
President Heart Care Foundation of India