Living with Beijing Pollution

[prakruti]

Hi everyone!

I am currently teaching english in Korea and want nothing more than to move to Beijing when I am done here in October to also teach english....you see, I am in love...and I want nothing more than to be with this person...even though it may only be temporary. And also, I loved Beijing!

The problem is that I have asthma. In clean surroundings I don't have much of a problem, but I am prone to having difficulties when I get sick. If I do get sick, I will surely have lung issues of some sort- usually due to an accumulation of mucus (sorry for the details).

When I was in Beijing in the winter, I had difficulties breathing- and my inhaler wasn't helping as much as it usually does...also I got really sick with flu like symptoms.

I realize I will probably get sick and have difficulties breathing at first but am hoping I might adapt....does anyone know if this may be the case?

Also, are there any places in or around Beijing that aren't as bad?

Does anyone have any stories about people living in Beijing with similar sensitivities?

I am hoping if I take extra precautions (wearing a mask on bad days, having a humidifyer and air purifier in my home) that I might be ok.

I am also thinking that I will go there for 1 month, and see how it goes before signing any contracts..in this case I will look for private/temp work....

any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!

-prakruti

[cdn_in_bj]

I'm not asthmatic but I too notice the pollution. Part of the problem is that it's not only pollution, but also the fine sand dust that gets blown over from the Gobi desert (you've probably heard about the sandstorms in April). That said, either things have improved in the past year or my body gotten used to it, but I no longer get the throat irritation (you long time BJ people know what I mean). Anyways, I've heard that a good air purifier can do wonders for asthma sufferers. The Sharp Plasmacluster models seem to be well reviewed, and better yet you can buy them locally online (I wish I'd done my research on this earlier, it would've saved me the trouble of bringing one over from home).

[trevelyan]

The air is notably, notably better once you get away from the downtown core, and particularly in the southwest part of the city. Live outside the 4th ring road if you can. If you need to be on a transit line you can always look at the #13 - it stretches quite far north.

Whether it's practical really depends how much time you'll need to spend downtown and how bad you problems are.

[koreth]

I have had moderate to severe allergies all my life; springtime in northern California, where I live, is usually several solid months of nonstop congestion, sneezing, and itchy eyes for me. So I came to Beijing last spring armed with a bunch of antihistamines and other pills. And to my shock, I didn't need any of them! It was like my allergies didn't know what to do with all the unfamiliar gunk in the air, and they didn't find any of the pollens they were used to.

Now, I was only there for a week or so. Quite possibly it would have gotten worse if I'd stayed longer.

Of course, if you've already been there and had a bad reaction, then taking lots of precautions is probably wise. A HEPA filter for your home, perhaps.

[Luobot]

Koreth reminded me of something that I’ve noticed: When I travel to another part of the world, I seem to leave my allergies behind. When I come back home, my allergies don’t catch up with me again for a while. Chinese friends who immigrated to the U.S. have told me that they lost their allergies when they came here for the first few years. Asthma in Beijing, however, hmmmm … do you like the indoors?

[cutty]

Yes, I confirm what Luobot said. If I don't go back China for more than 3 years, I'll have slight to moderate allergy symptoms. However if I go back China, in the next few years, I'll almost have no allergy symptoms at all.

I'm always wondering why people are spending on buying those allergy medicines, just go to have a trip in China and it's better than any medicines.

[prakruti]

ok...thanks for your comments...but it is more the asthma i am concerned about. i have a really hard time believing that of the millions of people in Beijing there are no people with asthma! But I am thinking that the Chinese have much stronger lungs considering the fact that they don't feel the need to wear mask's when riding bikes in Beijing and if the outdoor pollution isn't enough they pollute their indoors with all the cigarrette's....

it is helpful to know that the SW of Beijing is better...what about other places? Even outside of Beijing could be useful...thanks!

[Crivens200]

Actually, having read this thread . . . . has anyone come across a chinese person with Asthma? I never have - weird.

[redmini]

actually.. yeah, now that you mention it, neither have i. maybe it's cos having grown up there, their lungs have been trained since birth to withstand the pollution..? no idea.

prakruti, if you want to avoid pollution, definitely stay away from the downtown area. if fresh air is absolutely imperative, you can try the outer suburbs of beijing. it'll be a heck of a commute (at least an hour and a half) but air quality is (relatively) more decent.

[gato]

has anyone come across a chinese person with Asthma? I never have

Did you ask everyone you met if he or she had asthma?

[prakruti]

Well, firstly American's DO have asthma! There are more and more children with asthma in America and Canada than ever before. And while pollution does certainly play a role, so does genetic disposition. Perhaps, the chinese don't have as commen a genetic disposition.

Also, I have heard and read that Asian's don't have a huge nut allergy problem like in the West. I have heard this is b/c of the way they prepare the nuts (boiling vs. roasting)...but living in Korea I have seen plenty of roasted nuts, and I met a Korean with a mild nut allergy...but not lethal like many people in the West.

Does anyone know what living in the suburbs of Beijing is like....in Korea it's hell! I am currently stuck about 1.5 hours outside of Seoul....and it is dreadful!

Thanks!

[gato]

Does anyone know what living in the suburbs of Beijing is like? In Korea it's hell! I am currently stuck about 1.5 hours outside of Seoul....and it is dreadful!

Why is it hell? If the reason is what I guess it is, it will probably be even worse in the suburbs of Beijing -- though Beijing is so large that even if you drive 1.5 hours (outside of rush hour) away from Tiananmen Square, the center of the multiple concentric circles that is Beijing, you are probably still within Beijing's borders.

[prakruti]

It is hell because there are no pleasures of anything outside of Korean culture, because there are families and children absolutely everywhere, it is extremely conservative, and there is everything is less interesting than in Seoul (people, architecture, fashion, art, music)...is that what you guessed gato?

[Shadowdh]

I have heard that a reason for the increase in asthma and alot of the allergies is due to the fact that we are soooo much more obsessed with cleaning and disinfecting now days...

[simonlaing]

HI Prakruit,

I used to live near Shanghai and there are some pollution issues as well, if you discount the sand perhaps more so as things are more condensed.

I had an expat family friend who had a baby and was worried about he air affecting its lungs so they bought an large room Air filtration machine. These can be expensive I am told $60-200 + but they are worth it as it you can feel the difference when you come in from outside.

On the plus side I have pollen allergies which go crazy in US and Europe in spring time, where as here is it only a couple of days that I feel it. Most of the time these allergies a muted by the pollution.

Good luck,

SImon:)

[cdn_in_bj]

I've noticed more and more imported air purifiers being sold at the department stores, such as Blueair, Honeywell, Panasonic. Prices are probably a bit high but not too unreasonable as far as imported electronics/appliances go, though I would wait until there is a discount/promotion (the best I've seen is 20% off), or you can try ordering online.

[yonitabonita]

cdn_in_bj:

And what's the ballpark figure for a purifyer? With all the construction going on over here (about 3 major building projects and a major road project within a 500 m radius) the air over here could really do with some freshening up.

Y

[cdn_in_bj]

And what's the ballpark figure for a purifyer? With all the construction going on over here (about 3 major building projects and a major road project within a 500 m radius) the air over here could really do with some freshening up.

In the department stores, they go for 1500 and up. At the very least, you want to get one with a HEPA filter. The better ones also have a carbon filter to remove odours and volatile chemicals. I personally use a Sharp "Plasmacluster", which apparently can even inactivate bird flu virus. Another nice thing about the Sharps is that they are very quiet, which is a benefit as I'm guessing you'll be most likely to use it in your bedroom. If you're feeling adventurous, you can also try one of the local brands such as Yadu. I've been told by a sales person that Yado manufactures for Sharp, and I actually believe it as some of their models are very similar to Sharp models in design and features, and recently I even saw one with the "Plasmacluster" logo.

Anyways, I suggest that you do some research online to get an idea of the different brands and their features, as well as the pricing overseas.

By the way, I haven't seen Sharp sold in any department stores, but a friend from work ordered one online for 2200-2500 (I don't remember which one he got, there are several models to choose from). If you would like more info about this, let me know and I'd be glad to ask him. This reminds me, I've had mine for 3 months now and it's about time to clean the filters. It'll be interesting to see how much "crap" it's removed from the air.