eli5: why do people wear face masks where air pollution is severe ?

Question

I mean surely it’s the same air going into their lungs regardless of the face mask? It’s not like an infectious disease spread by human contact where wearing a mask will reduce you getting the particles, it’s literally the air. So what’s really the point ?

In: 1

Answer 1

That’s like me ignoring all of the dust on top of my speakers because ‘its literally the air.’

Which is to say, no, it isn’t literally the air. It’s particles *suspended* in the air.