Interviews by Rui Pastorin
Macau yesterday continued to be affected by bad air quality, with the air quality level remaining between “very bad” and “severe”. Given the predicament the Post wanted to know how this was affecting members of the public, with one saying that she had noticed some effects while another was not able tell the difference.
The local observatory noted in a statement on Sunday that the city was affected due to the continued influence of dusty weather associated with a northeast monsoon.
Affecting someone with allergies
Feli, a 40-year-old Filipina, was not aware of the city’s air quality situation until the Post spoke to her yesterday. All she knew was that when she left her flat that morning, there was some heaviness in her chest and she felt a little unwell.
Feli had asthma as a child and now, she said, has allergic rhinitis*, noting that situations like this could trigger it as she is very sensitive to dust. “Whenever the weather changes or maybe when the air quality’s bad, I feel unwell”, opting to go out as little as possible, if the situation allows, as she tends to feel sick. And if the bad air quality situation persists, Feli said that she might have some concerns. “I’m a little bit concerned because I have allergies. If the bad air quality persists, maybe I will not feel very good. I’m very sensitive to that kind of situation”.
‘A bit surprised’
Local businessman Cheong said that he had heard the news about the city’s bad air quality, which made him feel “a bit surprised”, adding that he did not expect the situation to be that serious. “I mustn’t forget that I need to wear a mask when I go out.”
However, despite his initial surprise, Cheong said he was not too worried, noting: “It happens sometimes, but it’s not something that happens every day”. But in cases where the air quality is bad, Cheong said it’s best to wear a mask when going out. And when indoors, he said people can turn on an air purifier – if they have one.
‘I don’t feel any difference’
“I don’t feel any difference from last night” said Wong, a teacher. However, the 34-year-old attributed this to the fact that she works indoors. Although the situation was not something Wong said she was worried about, she wore a mask as a form of protection, something that, she said, she recommends for situations like this, along with staying at home for people who might be particularly susceptible to the effects of bad air quality.
Moreover, a step she takes at home, she said, is to ensure that her air purifiers “are on every day, all the time”.
‘You can’t change the air, you can’t change the weather’
A local woman in her sixties meanwhile noted that the situation was not something to worry about, accepting that it is what it is. And for those who are worried, a mask was a viable option. “You can’t change the air, you can’t change the weather”, she insisted.
*Allergic rhinitis is inflammation (redness and swelling) of the inside of the nose. It’s caused by an allergen, such as pollen, dust, mould, or flakes of skin from certain animals. – Source: NHS Inform
An electronic sign near Flora Garden (二龍喉公園) shows Macau’s temperature, relative humidity and “very bad” air quality last night. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
