Smog

I have been avoiding writing about this subject because I didn't want to admit how much I was struggling with it. I've been avoiding admitting it to my husband too as he is somewhat more vocal about his displeasure in the situation than I am. We were aware that the environment in China wasn't quite as clean as our previous homes, but as we were moving to Suzhou and not Beijing we were led to believe that the pollution and smog was not quite so bad.

There were days where the sky was a little hazy but due to the immense heat when we first arrived we didn't think much of it as we were too preoccupied with the heat. I normally exercise 6 times a week. That has changed since moving to China. Every time I started to get back into an exercise routine I was becoming sick. It would take only 1 or 2 sessions of exercise outside and I was ill. Even exercising inside is not ideal unless you have an air purifier and all of your windows and doors seal perfectly. The pollution levels are worse in the Winter and we really noticed it. At the start of December levels reached above 500.

A colleague once told me that if you compared the pollution levels to those of London you would see little difference. We've checked and it's not quite true. The highest we've seen the pollution in London is 50. We only really started to drop below 200 last week. We both have the  perpetual need to clear our throats and avoid exercise. Considering my husband is an Ironman it is hard to imagine him avoiding exercise.

The pollution brings the smog and we worry if we cannot see the other side of the lake, however we have had days where we have barely been able to see the next apartment building and still businesses and schools remain open and government workers are still seen sweeping the roadside. Above 300 is considered hazardous and people were still going out when it was above 500. The government even tried to say that the pollution was a positive thing as reported here.

The pollution can't have been that bad between July and the start of December as we really didn't notice. We are researching purifiers and masks, but are probably researching a little too much and should just buy something! We are quite interested in the Smart Air Filters. They are somewhat basic, but if they do the job and it is only for a couple of years, then why not.

We get emails from a local cycle group as my husband has been thinking of going out with them. There were a couple of emails last week that were rather worrying. One woman from the group had to visit the Doctor due to respiratory problems as she had been cycling every day without a mask. She is now not cycling if the AQI is above 200 and definitely not without a mask.

Most of my colleagues raved about the clear air and skies where they went on Christmas break. We were exactly the same. Seeing the stars for the first time in months and just how clear the sky was. On our return we could taste the pollution in the air. You have to wonder how the locals handle it and how they live healthily in these conditions. As I've mentioned in the past most Chinese people spend the evenings outside dancing, playing basketball, doing Thai Chi etc. There have been reports of people having serious health issues that require medical assistance from doing these activities in the smog.

We are hoping the worst is behind us and that we somehow find a way through the smog.