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China pollution
China

In choking pollution scare, 120,000 fake face masks seized in China

Low quality masks could pose threat to health

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A file picture of a woman wearing a face mask during heavy smog in Beijing. The authorities fear some fake masks may have been sold overseas. There was no suggestion in the report that some were sold in China. Photo: AP
Keira Huang

About 120,000 fake face masks have been seized in Shanghai and investigators fear some may have been sold overseas, according to a news report.

The goods were copies of Chinese-made masks designed by the US-based conglomerate 3M, the China News Service reported.

READ MORE: Beijing under red alert for smog - and it’s going to get worse before it gets better

The counterfeit 3M N95 masks were poorly made and all have been destroyed, the report said.

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3M was quoted as saying the fakes were made of low quality materials and could pose a threat to health as their filters would do little to keep out air pollutants.

The seizures were made as part of an ongoing campaign against counterfeit goods, the report said.

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Suspects allegedly involved in the operation have been detained.

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