London’s parks are yellow and dusty — doctors say you need this ‘irksome’ item to stay safe

Blackheath in South London is just one of the former green spaces that’s turned brown (Picture: Fraser Gray/ Shutterstock) If you’ve taken a single step outside this summer, you’ll have noticed the transformation of our once thriving, lush green parks to barren and yellow wastelands. It’s a miserable sight. Just one step on the grass kicks up a cloud of dirt, while a dust devil made headlines as it whipped through Greenwich Park in London. But parks aren’t the only victims of this heatwave. Sitting in these dead, dry areas could actually have a detrimental impact on your health, too. Doctors have suggested one ‘irksome’ accessory which could keep you safer, though: a face mask. That’s right, instead of shielding ourselves from illnesses like Covid, we may once again need masks to prevent ourselves from inhaling too much dust. While this mask-wearing is just a suggestion, the following might have you seriously considering it. What are the health risks? Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. If you’re in dusty open spaces like parks in this heatwave, Dr Crystal Wyllie tells Metro that you’ll likely feel the effects. ‘Dusty environments can irritate your airways and can trigger an immune response that causes your airway muscles to tighten and swell, and mucus production to increase,’ she says. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video ‘This comes from breathing in fine particles that often irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, and can lead to coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.’ This environment can also mean your eyes begin to water and itch, as well as your skin being irritated. Of course, some will struggle more than others in these conditions, namely those with ‘sensitive airways’. Latest London news ‘If you have asthma or COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), you’re highly vulnerable as dust exposure can spark severe asthma attacks and wheezing,’ Dr Wyllie adds. ‘Dry, windy conditions coupled with large crowds moving across bare ground can increase the amount of dust in the air.’ While this is a relatively new problem in the UK, Australia’s National Asthma Council has a whole warning sheet on dust storms and asthma, stressing that ‘the longer you’re exposed, the greater chance for symptoms’. It may also be wise to carry your inhaler with you whenever you leave the house (if you don’t already), particularly if you’re going to the park. COPD creates an increased risk because sufferers can have emphysema or chronic bronchitis, where their airways are already inflamed. According to the NHS, this can leave you with sudden flare-ups where it’s difficult to breathe. Prevention Now, there’s not much to be done about this current heatwave, but you can keep yourself safe by taking precautions. ‘If you’re going to spend time outside in a dry and dusty environment, I’d recommend wearing a mask to protect your lungs from airborne particles, especially if you are at higher risk,’ Dr Wyllie says. Face coverings could soon become a necessity to protect ourselves in heatwaves (Picture: Shutterstock/ Aria sandi hasim) In the UK, face masks were made a mandatory safety measure back in June 2020 after the Covid outbreak, and this rule was in place for the next two years. Since then, though, some have chosen to continue wearing them, while others have found them to be annoying. ‘I honestly personally dislike the sensory experience and the inability to see other people’s faces irks me out,’ wrote one person on Reddit. ‘Of course, if you want to wear one, I respect your prerogative to do so.’ ‘We’ve collectively decided that masking is “over,” and I get it,’ added another. ‘The pandemic fatigue was real. The mandates were exhausting. Nobody wants to go back to that era. But in our rush to get back to normal, we threw out a pretty useful habit.’ But whether you like them or loathe them, wearing one could protect your lungs in the long term, if we continue to see heatwaves here in the UK. ‘It’s also essential to stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water to keep throat linings moist, and to help clear mucus,’ the doctor adds. 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