It's November and as usual the air quality in North India has dropped to horrible levels - if you're in Delhi, your eyes are likely burning, your head hurts, and you're coughing regularly. One thing that's essential to do at this point is to buy an air purifier[1], and we've done some useful testing[2] that can help you make a decision.
But of course, you can't stay in your home or office throughout the day. At some point, you're going to have to make your way through the grey-brown haze that is the city, although we'd sincerely suggest you try and explore work-from-home options first if you can. If there's no alternative then you absolutely need to wear an air pollution mask. There are a number of different options, and last year we'd tried some of the popular masks[3] on the market. We explained why you need a pollution mask (or respirator) and not just something like a surgical mask.
Kids Need Air Masks More Than Adults[4]
Pollution masks: Best anti-pollution masks you can buy in India
We also looked at some of the different types of masks, such as N95, P95, and R95. We talked to a lot of experts and people using these products, and also spoke to the companies that make some of them, and most agree that to deal with Delhi's pollution, you should invest in N95 masks. These are cost effective, and permit only five percent of all particulate matter to pass through while allowing you to breathe. The better ones come with breathing valves to allow you to breathe freely as well. You can see the various picks above - and the prices are linked to online stores...