A side issue to Japan's present misfortune

[2Margaret]

Having watched with horror the unfolding story of the Japan earthquake/tsunami - and watching people evacuating offices etc in Tokyo, could anyone enlighten me as to why many Japanese wear medical face masks routinely? I have noticed this before but with the mass coverage over the past days it has brought it once again to my attention. 2Margaret

[DTCwordfan]

More like Snot and Bird Flu - have never seen smog in Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto.

They are more health concious than we are in not wanting to spread diseases.....

[e.crespo]

The masks do not work, they pick them up in convenience stores and think that they are protected from germs and will not pass on germs. Some westerners are also joining in, but it is mainly women that I have seen indulging. I like the gels and sprays for hand hygiene available in hotel lobbies, restaurants, shops etc and not just in medical facilities. Son, DIL and granddaughter have been under the table several times this afternoon because of large aftershocks.

[New Judge]

You see Japanese tourists wearing these things in London. As e.crespo says they are useless, but if makes them fell safe, why not?

[askyourgran]

It amazed me that they are still getting the aftershocks, must be terrible living there. The Japanese and the Chinese seem to be health conscious I thought they used them when they had a cold.

[birdie1971]

Anyone who wears a face mask to 'protect' themselves from a virus, which is one of the smallest forms of 'life' imaginable, are fooling themselves. If you were scaled down to the size of a virus, a face mask would look like a massive net – albeit a net with holes in it so large that you could drive a bus through them.

However, the mesh size is not what lets most face masks down – it is the fitting of the mask to the wearers' face. Unless you get an complete seal around the entire mask, it renders the mask almost useless. If there's a gap somewhere at the mask's extremities, you would not just be able to drive a bus through the hole, you'd be able to sail an entire aircraft carrier (and more) through it.

[scrummyyummy]

I heard that because the Japanese are a considerate, respectable race, they wear masks when they have a cold or cough so they don't spread germs to others. I think also in cities, they wear masks to lesson pollutants being breathed in.
In London, you see cyclists (not necessary Japanese) wearing masks to alleviate some of the pollution from traffic fumes.