Over half of respondents say they wear masks on smoggy days but nearly 60 percent doubt their effectiveness, according to a survey by China Youth Daily.

The study of 2,004 people found that 55.5 percent of those questioned wear masks for protection, while 31.8 percent don't think it is a necessity. About 13 percent say they never wear masks even on days with high air pollution.

When people buy a mask, the top concern is comfort (65.4 percent), followed by effectiveness in filtering polluted air (64.6 percent), price (41.8 percent) and design (20.6 percent), said the survey.

For effectiveness, 14.8 percent think masks work remarkably well, 58.5 percent say the impact is not noticeable and 18.1 percent think they are more of a psychological solace.

The survey also shows 57.1 percent believe the benefits of masks are hyped while 49.6 percent think there are too many fake products on the market.

Xu Peiyun, who is 23 years old and grew up in Beijing, said she does not have the habit of wearing a mask even on polluted days. Even when she does wear a one, she thinks it delivers more mental comfort than physical protection.

She also thinks damage from sand storms, which occasionally hits Beijing in spring, is more serious. Xu's parents also don't wear masks mainly because they find them troublesome.

Ren Zhuo, who came to study in Beijing during 2016, said she has to rely on a mask because she finds it difficult to breathe outdoors without it.

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