Push for anti-smog mask standards in China

Fine particle air pollution, consisting of particles measuring less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), poses serious health risks (including heart attack risk) when deeply inhaled—and PM2.5 levels in China routinely reach hazardous levels in large cities such as Beijing. Chinese health and consumer groups are pushing for a national standard for anti-smog masks, after finding that some masks on the market are low-quality fakes. Demand for the masks has soared since 2012, with sales of 2.53 billion in 2013 and projections of 3.92 billion in 2015. The China Nonwovens Industrial Textiles Association has finished the first draft of a proposal to the national standards commission to regulate the booming industry. The issue of standardizing PM2.5 masks dominated discussions at a February 2014 forum on air pollution management and prevention in Beijing.