鼻毛１

In recent years along with many other developing Asian nations, China has been increasing its level of industrial manufacturing as it readies itself for remarkable industrial growth. However, neglecting its environment for the sake of industry has brought with it the problem of dense smog pollution, with microscopic smog particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less having been detected in overwhelming large amounts in China’s air in recent days.

The smog is the same as that found in factory exhausts, car fumes and the like. Measured per cubic meter, at one instance the observed value of pollution in Beijing reached levels 10 times the Chinese government’s recommended safety level. If one were to go by the Wealth Health Organization (WHO)’s recommended value, the figure rises to 40 times greater than normal. When it comes to pollution, it is thought that of the asian nations undergoing remarkable growth, 70% of nations are reaching a critical level. The toxic substances that seep out into the environment cause asthma, pneumonia and even in some cases death.

Of course, those living in highly polluted areas will surely want to know how their air compares, but measuring the levels each time can prove tiresome and expensive. With this in mind, one innovative company called Clean Air Asia has stumbled upon a way determine just how polluted your air is, and has designed an interactive map based on – wait for it – nostil hair.

The method relies on the principle that the length of the nasal hair is directly related to the level of air pollution. Colour-coded and integrated into Google Maps, nostril hair length is made available to those concerned about the cleanliness of the air they breathe. By judging the average nostril hair length in any particular area, users can find out just how hazardous their environment is.

When you find an area on the map that you’re interested in, with a simple click, a nose icon appears on the right hand side of the screen. Depending on the level of pollution, the nasal hair length changes accordingly.

Pollution map

鼻毛表示

What do the different colors on the map mean?

If the colour is green, it means that you’re living in a clean area with no need for concern. Yellow means that the air around you is safe. When it comes to orange and red, the story is a little different: orange indicates the need for vigilance, while red, as I’m sure you have guessed by now, is the hazardous zone. I’m not quite sure just how fatal breathing in the air from the red zone would actually be, but it’s not something I’d like to try for experiment’s sake.

鼻毛表示２

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), on a global scale, over 13 million people have died from air pollution-related illnesses; 8 Million of which being based in Asia.

Britain’s The Economist has made use of WHO’s findings on world air pollution by creating a worldwide “worst ten” polluted city ranking. Taking a peek below, India takes the lead, followed in second place by China, and then Mexico. To our readers out there, I urge to you to check out the graph below and let us know what you think about the idea that nostril hair length is related to air pollution. For those readers living in the worst 10, as bizarre a question as it is, do you feel that your nostril hair length has been affected? Feel free to leave a comment below.

20130119_woc790_3

Source: カラパイア

Inset images: カラパイア , The Economist