The Foreign Service Journal, October 2016

24 OCTOBER 2016 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL CDC—Air Quality www.cdc.gov/air/default.htm Department of State Global Air Quality Partnership www.state.gov/m/pri/gdi/airquality/index.htm www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/02/237573.htm www.state.gov/m/pri/gdi/airquality/c70218.htm Department of State Air Pollution Working Group Email: MEDair@state.gov Department of State Open Net https://diplopedia.state.gov/index.php?title=Air_Pollution snip.state.gov/bno EPA Particle Pollution and Health www.epa.gov/pm-pollution EPA Air Resources Page www.epa.gov/learn-issues/air-resources Health Effects Institute www.healtheffects.org/index.html WHO Fact Sheet (Ambient and Indoor Pollution) www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/ WHO Database (Ambient (Outdoor) Air Pollution in Cities, for download) www.who.int/phe/health_topics/outdoorair/databases/cities/en/ AQI DATA EPA Air Now www.airnow.gov (click Department of State logo for overseas information) Mission China AQI Data www.stateair.net/web/post/1/5.html AIR POLLUTION RESOURCES Real Time AQI aqicn.org/map OpenAQ Real Time Comparison: Beijing, New Delhi and Ulaanbaatar https://labs.openaq.org/aq-viz/ PREVENTION METHODS Extremely High Levels of PM2.5: Steps to Reduce Your Exposure http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/20130201-pm 25-steps.html Home Air Filters EPA Guide to Home Air Filters www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/guide-air-cleaners-home www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/residair.html California EPA Recommendation on Air Filters www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/aircleaners.htm www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/aircleaners/certified.htm Independent Reviews of Air Purifiers www.air-purifier-ratings.org/index.html http://ahamverifide.org/search-for-products/room-air-cleaners/ Face Masks FDA Recommendation on Face Masks and N95 Respirators www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ GeneralHospitalDevicesandSupplies/PersonalProtective Equipment/ucm055977.htm Guide to Wearing Face Masks Correctly http://oehha.ca.gov/air/risk_assess/wildfirev8.pdf (p.17-20) to high levels of pollution and its potential effects on health, more research is necessary to determine just how much expo- sure is harmful. Researchers also need to establish a causal relationship for short- and long-term effects. The field of public health faced a similar situation a half-century ago, when experts started to detect the harmful effects of cigarette smoking; it took decades of research to create policy and political and societal change. The takeaway should not be to panic about air pollution, but to start minimizing exposure and taking this issue seri- ously. An increased awareness of air pollution and its effects on Foreign Service employees’ and family members’ lives also raises questions for the Department of State and other foreign affairs agencies: • Should there be additional incentives for serving at highly polluted posts? • Should there be extra medical attention or screenings for those heading to or serving at polluted posts? • Should children be allowed at severely polluted posts when no adequate face masks exist to protect them? • What can State and other agencies do to help safeguard the short- and long-term health of its employees and fam- ily members who serve at these posts? n