Dr. Chan Chang-chuan says: "These masks are ineffective. Much of the pollution in the form of gases and particulates is so tiny that a simple mask has a low filtration rate. Besides, . . . they are not airtight. So they give a false sense of security."
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20031122a/article_02.htm
Many people use surgical masks in different places. Here are some more examples:
SANTIAGO, Chile - Chile's capital, home to some of Latin America's foulest air, is losing ground in its battle against pollution after hard-won gains in the 1990s.
On a recent Saturday, Luis Mariano Rendon, a lawyer and ecologist, led a group of 20 to 40 bicyclists wearing surgical masks in a 12-hour bike ride in circles around the government palace in the heart of Santiago, to push for cleaner air.
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/37225/newsDate/13-Jul-2006/story.htm
Debbie Carlin concedes, but occasionally wearing a hospital surgical mask outdoors was the only way she could finish mowing her yard.
"The fumes get to be that bad," says the South Park homeowner.
http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0101/news-anderson2.php
- "Hundreds of NATO-led peacekeeping troops wearing surgical masks against toxic smoke swept into a Serb-run metal smelting complex in Kosovo yesterday and shut it down, then used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters."
http://emperors-clothes.com/articles/hugus/surgical.htm
