Anti-Pollution Mask Market: Caring a Little More About Lungs
Air pollution is the most pressing environmental health risk that the global population is currently facing. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2016, air pollution is estimated to contribute toward 7 million premature deaths annually, with 92 per cent of the global population is estimates to breathe toxic air quality. Also, in financial terms, premature deaths due to air pollution cost about $5 trillion in welfare losses worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2018, air pollution is the main cause of death among children under the age of 15, killing 600,000 every year. Air pollution affects all regions, settings, socioeconomic groups, and age groups. However, there are important geographical differences in exposure to air pollution. For instance, people in Asia or the Middle East and Africa breathe much higher levels of air pollutants than those in living other parts of the world. Moreover, some places/regions have air pollution levels that are several times higher than those considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO) Air Quality guidelines. With growing concerns regarding environmental sustainability, reliable estimates of exposure to and impacts from air pollutants are necessary for policy-makers, as well as development partners to make and implement targeted policies, aiming at reducing air pollution, as well as assessment of how much they are contributing to protect health.
The global anti-pollution mask market is significantly growing on account of rising air pollution levels coupled with rising awareness about its harmful impact on human health. Exposure to air pollutants affect human health in several ways, leading to increased mortality and morbidity. Epidemiological evidence on the health effects of air pollution is growing and evolving quickly, making air pollution the largest environmental risk factor. Rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as asthma and lung cancer is encouraging people to use anti-pollution masks whenever go outside. According to the WHO, asthma is one the major non-communicable disease, and was estimated to affect more than 336 million people globally in 2016. This chronic disease caused 417,918 deaths at the global level and 24.8 million DALYs were attributable to asthma in the same year. WHO states air pollution as one of the strongest risk factors for developing asthma, including tobacco smoke and chemical irritants at the workplace.
Global Anti-Pollution Market Size, US$ Billion, 2019 and 2025
Source: Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence Analysis
Another major factor for the booming demand for anti-pollution mask is the rising number of factories where workers are required to wear masks to protect themselves from hazardous gases. Implementation of strict regulations and standards regarding workers’ safety is augmenting the demand for anti-pollution masks across various regions/countries. For instance, the Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA), part of the United States Department of Labor, ensures that workers have safe and healthy working conditions by setting and enforcing standards and also provides training, outreach, education, and assistance regarding the same. Under federal law, a worker is entitled to a safe workplace and it is the duty of the employer to provide the workplace free of known health and safety hazards. In the European Union (EU), member states are free to adopt stringent rules for the protection of workers when transposing EU directives into national law. Therefore, legislative requirements in the field of workplace safety and health can vary across EU Member States. According to these regulations and standards, workers are required to use personal protective equipment (PPE) including face masks, gloves, and gowns in industries where working conditions are hazardous and can severely impact the human health. As such, rapidly growing industries such as oil and gas, mining, and chemical are boosting the demand for anti-pollution masks for industrial purposes, thereby bolstering the overall market growth. Increasing investments, supported by favorable government policies and initiatives to increase the development of various industries, especially chemical, is bolstering the anti-pollution mask market.
Chemical Industry Total Global Economic Impact by Region,
Total GDP Contribution, in $Billion, 2017
Source: ICCA
The recent global pandemic outbreak caused by COVID-19 has resulted in a sudden spike in the demand for face masks, be it anti-pollution, surgical, or protective. The WHO estimates that 89 million medical masks are needed globally every month while the COVID-19 pandemic lasts, together with 76 million examination gloves and 1.6 million goggles and face visors. Since the coronavirus gets transmitted through air droplets, over 50 countries across the globe have made mask-wearing in public places mandatory. The WHO also advises people to wear mask if they are coughing and sneezing and says that this precaution is only effective if combined with frequent handwashing. Many governments have made the wearing of masks a pre-condition for lifting lockdowns, allowing people to return to shops, offices and factories. The UK government, for example, advises to wear a mask to cover nose and mouth in enclosed spaces where social distancing is not possible, like while commuting via public transport.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), recommends wearing masks in places where social distancing is not possible, such as shops, to slow the spread of the virus. Even airlines including American, Lufthansa, and United, have announced the compulsory face mask-wearing in terminals as well as on flights to curtail the further spread of the virus. Eurostar, which operates train services between France and England, also requires passengers to wear masks. Many countries are imposing fines for failing wear masks while some are distributing them for free. For instance, failure to wear a mask on public transport in France can incur a fine of up to $145. This rapid spread of the coronavirus has led to a huge demand-supply gap in the overall mask market, creating a shortage of all types of masks including anti-pollution. Supplies of masks have further been disrupted by countries banning exports or seizing supplies within their borders and shortages of specialist fabrics used to make the more advanced types of respirator masks. With any potential vaccine still many months away, billions of masks are going to be needed during this pandemic, atleast till the end of this year.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Anjali Joshi is a senior market research analyst at Knowledge Sourcing Intelligence. She oversees a team of analysts and is known for the quality of market intelligence she delivers to the clients which range from start-ups and Non-profit Organizations to Fortune 500 companies. Anjali’s keen understanding of international business and market dynamics, coupled with her years of experience working in this industry, allows her to analyse current and future trends across both global and clients’ target markets and help them in making informed decisions.
