High-end anti-smog masks for international school students in China

As winter season is approaching with high demand for heating, smog is getting thicker in China and a high-priced "hog-nosed mask purifier," priced around 50,000 won (approx. 45 U.S. dollars), is now on demand in the Chinese market.

According to a Chinese on-line media Peng Pai, some international schools in Beijing and Shanghai make a purchase in bulk of this "hog-nosed mask" manufactured by a pharmaceutical company and distribute to students. The manufacturer claims, “This mask is able to purify air-borne ultrafine particles with diameter less than 2.5μm by 99 percent or higher.” The mask operates based on a fish fin’s mechanism to absorb oxygen in the water, the manufacturer explained.

Shanghai Pinghe Bilingual School recently purchased 200 units of the mask and distributed to students for test run. Other international schools are reviewing the necessity of procurement. Students of five schools in Beijing are using the high-end "hog-nosed mask," said the online media.

A teacher of Shanghai Pinghe Bilingual School said, “Young students are not allowed to have outdoor activities if concentration of ultrafine particles in the air is over 200(μg/m³). If it is between 100 and 200μg/m³, students can have outdoor sports activities and decide by themselves whether or not to wear a hog-nosed mask.” The mask is priced at 236 yuan for adults (approx. 42,400 won or 38 dollars) and at 288 yuan (approx. 51,700 won or 47 dollars).