Wearing face masks to protect oneself from chronic air pollution in East Asia predates the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, bad air has become an accepted reality for school children, who routinely stay indoors on days with poor air quality. The Korean language even has a term specifically for this type of pollution—fine dust—and its levels are displayed in real time at train stations, bus stops, and elevators.
Air pollution is a politically charged issue as well. In South Korea, candidates for presidency have tackled air pollution reduction as part of their campaign motivations. In China, the long-standing smog over Beijing and other cities has been viewed as a failure of leadership. Additionally, neighboring governments tend to be angered by the smoke emanating from forest and peatland fires in Indonesia, which affects surrounding areas in Southeast Asia.
Political pressure, however, can lead to concrete changes. One example is Mexico City’s drastic measures to improve air quality, such as restricting the number of days cars could be driven and closing an urban refinery. These changes proved effective, leading to a significant improvement in air quality.
On the other hand, unexpected events can also contribute to better air quality. During the coronavirus pandemic, the air quality of some cities—like Bangkok and New Delhi—improved considerably, according to Mr. Paiboon, an 18-year veteran taxi driver. Sadly, the improvements have been short-lived. As Mr. Paiboon notes, driving on the tollway early in the morning reveals the same haze and dust particles that have become commonplace once more.
