china's face mask industry under scrutiny as pollution worsens - top air purifiers

HONG KONG (Reuters)-
With worsening air pollution intensifying, Chinese citizens snapped up masks with fanfare
A million dollar industry where many products are not even able to provide basic protection requires better supervision and standards.
China's deteriorating air quality is a top priority for China's stability.
Obsessed leaders, who are anxious to calm potential unrest as the richer urban population opposes growth --at-all-
Economic models that cause most of the country's air, water and soil poisoning.
The government has invested billions of dollars in various projects to fight pollution, but so far there is no project to solve the problems caused by cars and coal.
Power plants and outdated factories that burn millions of tons of toxins into the air.
According to an article jointly published by the medical journal the Lancet, air pollution is estimated to cause about 350,000 to 500,000 premature deaths in China every year.
Written by Chen zhu, China's former health minister.
Masks have become the standard for many urban residents, although only 9 of the 37 masks recently tested by the China Consumer Association meet the criteria for filtering particulate matter and breathing convenience.
The most expensive price is 199 yuan ($32. 15)
The association said in a test report that this is not better than the cheapest one-time mask, which costs 1 yuan.
"Most masks on the market do not protect pm2. 5.
Even if manufacturers claim they did, "said Lei Limin, vice president of the China Textile Business Association, referring to small particles that pose the greatest risk to human health, as they easily enter the lungs.
Lei said his team is pushing national standards against corruption
Smog masks responded to last week's call from the Chinese consumer association.
In China, masks are traditionally classified as personal protective equipment primarily for medical or industrial purposes.
Despite the surge in demand, there is no quality standard for masks used by individuals in the country.
Last year, consumers on China's largest online e-commerce platform
E-commerce website, Taobao, spent 0. 87 billion yuan ($140 million)on anti-
Smog products such as masks and air purifiers.
Taobao, owned by Alibaba Group Holding Co. , Ltd. , increased the number of people buying masks by 181% compared with the previous year.
James Roy, vice president of Shanghai, said: "People are looking for anything that really can help them, and these things can help reduce any health risks associated with pollution
Headquartered in China Market Research Group.
Local media recently questioned the effectiveness of some masks, China Central Television (CCTV (CCTV)
The target is Dadian village, eastern Shandong province, where there are 300 workshops and 80% of the country's general masks are supplied.
The output value of the big saw mask increased from 0. 35 billion yuan in 2007 to more than doubled.
1 billion yuan in 2012, when the village produced 0. 9 billion masks.
CCTV reported that some workshops in large stores have been producing cotton masks with filters.
The masks were then sold to companies claiming to protect people from pollution.
However, a workshop owner cited in the report said that the filter might not work.
These masks are not effective for pm2. 5.
CCTV reported that there were five particles.
Jiang Xiubin, who owns the Binhai mask factory, is the head of the Dadian mask association. He said that the village only produces ordinary masks and does not produce reverse masks. smog ones.
Asked if producers would consider upgrading masks to address concerns about air pollution, Jiang said it had not yet become part of the plan. ($1 = 6.
RMB 2250)