We've all been feeling quite miserable during these prolonged period of atrocious air pollution.<br />Fortunately, for most of us, we either work inside most of the time or can stay home with the air purifier on.<br />However,... it's a different story for those who have to work outside all day,... especially if part of their job is communicating with others.<br />Choi Si-young reports.<br /> <br />A new addition to people's must-have items before heading out: a face mask<br />The horrific air quality in South Korea over the past week has made it routine to wear a face mask when venturing outside,… to primarily protect our lungs from the harmful dust.<br />But for workers who spend most of their workday outside, wearing a mask the whole time isn't a practical, easy or especially comfortable experience.<br /><br />"I can't breathe well wearing a face mask all day while I'm driving. Nor can I keep my car window shut all the time."<br /><br />Merchants at street stalls in downtown Seoul find themselves in a dilemma.<br />They are directly exposed to the hazardous air for hours on end, yet they cannot simply put a face mask on.<br /><br />"With a face mask on, I can't communicate easily with customers, so I take it off. But then, I have this sore throat and keep coughing."<br /><br />The situation isn't all that different at a bigger, mostly indoor market that attracts a large number of customers.<br /><br />"Here at a large traditional market in downtown Seoul, merchants are exposed to high levels of ultrafine dust, as particles blow in through this large entrance gate."<br /><br />Merchants who sell goods at the traditional market say they are as exposed to the pollution as those who work outside on street stalls. <br />They profess similar frustration with the dilemma of wearing a face mask.<br />Some go further,... calling for strong actions to be taken.<br /><br />"I think a ventilation fan or a water-spraying cleaner that hoses down the floor would help reduce ultrafine dust levels in the market."<br /><br />Suggestions like that are something else for the government to mull over... as it faces the daunting task of cleaning up the air we breathe.<br /><br />Choi Si-young, Arirang News. <br />
