[S. Korea] Seasonal Sandstorms: a Survival Guide (annoyingly fussy advice)

As the annual sandstorms are blown into Korea from the arid wastes of Mongolia, the annual health questions emerge. Are an itchy nose and itchy ears a sign of danger? Will sunglasses protect the eyes? The Chosun Ilbo has the lowdown on surviving seasonal sandstorms. First of all, bear in mind that you inhale as much as three times more dust than normal when the sandstorms descend. And the dust contains contaminants including heavy metals, which are bad for skin, eyes, ears, nose and throat.

If you can avoid going out, stay in. Shake the dust off curtains and clean the floor frequently as fine dust creeps in through tiny gaps in the door and window frames. Wet dusters or steam cleaners are better, because vacuum cleaners or dry dusters just scatter fine dust all over the place.

If you have to go outside, wear a mask, sunglasses and a hat. For people who need their vision corrected, glasses are better than contact lenses. Don’t worry if others think you are being too fastidious. When sand particles get into the eyes, they can cause conjunctivitis, and people who have had eye surgery like Lasik or cataract operations are especially at risk.

If you go outside without applying any skin protection during the sandstorms, you are asking for trouble. Even ordinary makeup creates a kind of barrier to protect your face. The fact that there is dust in the air does not mean ultraviolet rays are reduced, so sunblock is a good idea if you are spending longer periods in the open.

When you get home, shake the dust off your clothes before you get inside and wash your hands thoroughly, especially under the nails and up to the wrists. There will be lots of dust in your hair and scalp, so it’s best to wash you hair as soon as you get in.

Many people experience cold symptoms during the sandstorms. Even though it is no direct cause of cold, dry weather and the attendant big fluctuations between night and day temperatures make people more susceptible. Drink plenty of water to help your immune system cope. The mucous membranes in the airways dry up easily, which is why experts recommend drinking 1-1.5 liters of water and eating high-protein meals.

As it happens, the sandstorm season increases sales of pork belly, though it is unclear whether eating lots of meat actually helps. Oriental medicine practitioners insist that pork bellies, which have plenty of fat, absorb pollutants and eventually help evacuate them. Mung beans, bean sprouts, sea tangles, garlic and chlorella are also good at neutralizing the poisonous effects of heavy metals and evacuating them.

While driving your car, don’t forget to set the lever to control air flow inside so that outside air does not come in.

I observed none of the above. It looked as if it were cloudy today. Visibility was pretty low. Itchy feeling on my skin.... It was a bad "Brown Dust" day, thanks to patch of real estate which the glorious fatherland of Han race swallowed part of and try to go for the whole of.

1 posted on 04/09/2006 6:38:03 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster

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