Asia bears the brunt of air pollution

Worse than car crashes, dirty water and alcoholism in terms of health effects, air pollution is shortening lifespans all over the planet, but particularly in Asian cities like Beijing. — dpa

Anyone who has lived or travelled in Asia will know that wearing face masks in public was a done thing before the Covid-19 pandemic.

In cities such as Jakarta, Indonesia, belching fumes from heavy traffic have long meant the wearing of coverings by some of the tens of thousands of motorcyclists clogging the streets at rush hour.