John Saboe's Far East Travels

Unhealthy levels on the Air Quality Index are a fact of life in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. In this episode I review the AQI so you'll have some context as to what could be considered safe or dangerous depending on how sensitive you are to air pollution. Other factors like seasonal conditions, for example the yellow dust from the Gobi Desert in Spring throughout East Asia, and the slash and burn season that affects Southeast Asia can also determine how you should be prepared. High quality masks that guard against large particles of pollutants are always easily available in some cities so ordering your masks before you leave on your trip is probably a good idea. As well as downloading the Air Matters app and having some websites that you can easily access before and during your trip. As I mentioned in the episode there are some days where the AQI can vary from over 150 in the morning to 80-90 later in the day, so in some cases just staying indoors for the morning or a portion of a day can make a