Here we have yellow dust that blows from the Gobi Desert and leaves a fine, yellow powder filled with chemicals and industrial pollutants on everything.
They issue warnings, saying stay inside and if you have to go out, wear long sleeves and masks, wear glasses instead of contacts, and if you have asthma, don't go out at all. I was dubious about all of these warnings, figuring they were just being over-protective, as Koreans sometimes are about the weather. It has supposedly become increasingly worse the past few years due to the desertification and industrialization of Northern China and Mongolia.
After the dust entirely blocked out the sun, and cast an eerie yellow hue on everything, I decided it would be a nice day for a stroll. For a while, I scoffed at the dust. Then I mostly coughed. After about 30 minutes, my throat itched and my eyes were blurry. At one point I had to cover my face to breathe.
Although it may not be great for people, yellow dust does have a few benefits. Lime and other alkali substances contained in the dust neutralize acid rain, prevent acidification of soil and lakes, and provide organic salts to plants and marine plankton.
Though I bought masks, I don't know if I can ever bring myself to actually wear them in public.
I think that the mask is a nice addition to your face. hehe. :P j/k. but it's probably worth wearing in order to keep the dust out of your lungs. did you take that pic you have posted?
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that you should wear the mask out in public.
ReplyDeleteWow, Rach you actually don't look half bad in that face mask! You just might have a future in face mask modeling!
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