Sollution to the Polution?

I think the pollution starts to get worse this time of the year, or possibly because I live just outside of town, I am on the motorbike a lot more which exposes one to all the fumes of the tuk-tuks, cars, and other motorbikes. Often times it is this black exhaust which comes out, I've never seen that in the US, no fuel-emission standards I guess. Anyway, the last couple days, my throat has been bothering me and my eyes have been burning all day. I guess that is the only thing that can drive people from Chiang Mai's charming atmosphere... many people get respitory problems. Anyway, I invested the .$25 cents in a mask that covers my face while I am biking, so now I'll look like a real freak with my pink helmet while I am riding! Hopefully that will help, I try not to think about it too much though. The other day, I saw this farang get off his bike with a full-on gas mask looking thing that protruded from his face a good 4", giving him an anteater look. I guess that will solve the problem, but i don't think I am ready to go quite that far.