In choking pollution scare, 120,000 fake face masks seized in China
Low quality masks could pose threat to health
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.
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The counterfeit 3M N95 masks were poorly made and all have been destroyed, the report said.
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.
Suspects allegedly involved in the operation have been detained.
It is not clear if any of the fake masks were put on sale overseas, the report said.
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3M sells many of its Chinese-made masks in Africa.
Much of China has been shrouded in smog over the past week, but the report did not suggest that any of the fake face masks had been sold on the mainland.
