Air pollution particles incorporated in tableware collection for ecological awareness

Posted on 23/09/2022 by Ida Torres

While we all know that we are constantly surrounded by all kinds of pollutants (especially those living in metropolitan cities), it can sometimes be such an intangible thing. We sometimes need a visual reminder that we are continually inhaling smog, air pollutants, and other things that may be invisible. If you want to “see” all that, there is a new line of porcelain tableware that incorporates these air pollutants in its design and materials, although if you want to use it as you consume your food is questionable.

Designers: Iris de Kievith and Annemarie Piscaer

Thinking about pollution and eating or drinking may not be the most appetizing combination but Smogware is a minimalist, porcelain tableware collection that wants to make you think even as you consume food. The creators were able to harvest dust, specifically the air pollution from Rotterdam, Netherlands, and incorporate it into things like plates, coffee cups, cereal bowls by seamlessly glazing the particles onto the items. They don’t look anything like pollutants if you didn’t know the background behind it.

Some items in the collection include around one gram of particulate matter which is the estimated amount that a citizen in the Dutch city inhales over a period of ten years. The particulates depend on the hues and colors of the items and may indicate the dust that we breathe in for 25, 45, 65, or 85 years. It’s a stark reminder that air pollution is one of the worst problems we face and that people living in cities need to take additional protection and precautions or demand for some action from their local officials.

The Smogware collection includes 6 pieces like plates, cups, bowls, etc. They come in different earthen colors with gradients to show off the incorporated pollution materials. If you didn’t know they were there, it would look like a pretty, minimalist tableware line. But having that “backstory” should make us more aware of what we’re breathing in, although it may also make you lose your appetite while eating or drinking.

The post Air pollution particles incorporated in tableware collection for ecological awareness first appeared on Yanko Design.

Pure Bubble concept will help bring better air quality outdoors

Posted on 07/06/2022 by Ida Torres

Air pollution has been a persistent problem in most urbanized areas. It’s something that we don’t really notice or don’t realize the effects on us unless there’s a haze problem. But we all know it’s there, having significant effects on our health and becoming a major contributor to global warming and climate change. Emissions of sulfur dioxide, ozone (O3), carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulates, and others are the main offenders. We need more products or at least concepts that can help reduce the effects of this on our health and in the world in general.

Designer: Wang Hong Min

The idea behind this concept called Pure Bubble is to help improve the quality of outdoor air that we breathe in every day. It’s basically like an air purifier but this time it’s for outdoors. It’s an air filtering system that is made up of multiple balls or bubbles that are able to not just detect and analyze air quality but “clean” the pollution source as well. The bubble design is inspired by the dandelion (or as my friend says, what Flik rode in A Bug’s Life) so it looks soft, light, and airy.

Each bubble has three layers that will help in improving the outdoor air quality where it will be floating around. The first layer has helium to make it lighter and has hundreds of holes on its surface so air can go in and out. The second layer meanwhile has a filtering function with a TPA patented technology and it can be re-used and rewashed. The final layer is its recharging motor, powered by wind power when docked.

How it works is that it sucks in the polluted air and filters it in the central layer. It will then blow out once the air is cleaned and so you get the effect of bubbles flying in various directions. Each bubble actually has a sensor and is also self-illuminating. The mineral elements can be extracted once the pollutants have been removed. It is also designed to help clean water systems, for example collecting rainwater and turning it into something reusable.

These bubbles and the stand can be put up anywhere that has a port and that needs to have better air quality. Hopefully, this award-winning concept eventually becomes a reality as we need all the help we can get.

The post Pure Bubble concept will help bring better air quality outdoors first appeared on Yanko Design.

This air purifying bike helmet adds a layer of security and safety we need while commuting!

Posted on 16/09/2021 by Gaurav Sood

A smart helmet designed for ergonomic comfort of the rider, and most of all, to ensure fresh air flow when riding through highly air polluted sections of the city.

Air pollution has become a serious health hazard in the last decade, and the problem seems to be only getting worse with over 1.4 billion vehicles on roads worldwide. This value is estimated to hit 2 billion by the year 2035. According to WHO, 90 percent of the world’s population is exposed to highly toxic air pollutants, resulting in over a million fatalities every year. This is exaggerated by the fact that physical activity is simply not there to counter the adverse effects of air pollution, and in fact, this alone contributes to 3.2 million fatalities annually. Of all the motorists on the streets, cyclists are at the most risk as they are exposed to air pollutants.

So how can cyclists be protected against inhalation of dangerous traffic fumes? Nathan Hassanali has the answer in the form of a hybrid helmet mask wearable. Christened Airban, the urban bike helmet aims to take on the unavoidable air pollution crisis. The advanced helmet sucks polluted air, filters it, and then beams pure air onto the fixed face shield that’s at a slight distance from the face. As the rider keeps moving forward, the air passes through the front vents on the front and enters the air channel. Simultaneously air is drawn from the rear via a small brushless fan that projects the air to the breathable position. Air entering the Airban helmet from both these channels is filtered through the HEPA filter which removes 99.97% of 0.3 μm particulates. The activated carbon layer eliminates any smoke, odors, or other pollutants – therefore, beaming the rider with clean air even in the most polluted environment.

The lightweight bike helmet frame is tailored for comfort with the head adjustment system and cushion padding. So you might ask, what drives this system? Well, there are rechargeable batteries on the rear, or the user can opt for a magnetically connected cable that pairs with a portable battery pack the size of a water bottle. So, bulk is not going to be an issue for the practicality of use. The user can holster it to the bike frame or put it under the saddle.

To give the helmet smart characteristics, it can be paired to the phone via an app. This helps detect the changes in speed and increases or decreases the airflow. For example, at the crossroads, the high exposure to air pollution will be negated by better filtering. On the other hand, on open stretches at high speeds, the fresh air flow is reduced through the fan vent. The GPS will also assist in determining the fan’s rpm for a constant flow of pure air.

Designer: Nathan Hassanali

This air pollution sucking bike wheel is the solution needed to provide clean breathing air!

Posted on 28/09/2020 by Gaurav Sood

Human inflicted air pollution is a nemesis for the planet, upsetting the balance of the ecosystem and contributing largely to the global warming woes. The problem has quickly escalated and is proving to be a major headache for nations worldwide. People are doing their bit by adopting emission-free modes of commuting – bicycles being the simplest and easiest ones to adopt right now, giving us all reason enough to make the switch from four-wheeled air-polluting vehicles. As an added bonus, they fit right in with the fitness regime for a healthy lifestyle. According to the European Cyclists’ Federation, “average bike emits 21g of CO2 per kilometer traveled – 5g for the bike’s manufacture and maintenance and 16g for the calories consumed, and subsequently burned, by the cyclist to power the pedals.” In comparison, a motor vehicle emits 271g of CO2 per passenger kilometer!

Taking a ride on the pedal-powered bike is an eco-friendly way of living but can it be bettered? According to industrial design graduate from London Southbank University, Kristen Tapping, it is possible. She has thought of an innovative way to turn the bike’s wheel into air pollution capturing device that purifies the air and releases it back into the environment. The award-winning invention christened Rolloe Roll Of Emissions, inspired by the highly air polluted streets of London, has to be one of the cleanest ways of commuting, especially in crowded cities. Kristen pondered the spinning movement of the bike’s wheel and its use as an air filter, just like a conventional household air filter does with the spinning motion. The mechanism works by pushing the polluted air inside the rim of the wheel which houses the filters. These filters are made up of the loofa sponge which is a washable and biodegradable HEPA filter that captures the large particulates and activated carbon which is proven for its properties to capture gas molecules and volatile organic compounds.

The innovative wheel is designed in a way to suck in the air through the central cavity and push clean air out through the fins. The more the biker pedals forward, the more particulates are captured. For now, the prototype developed by Kristen captures 0.665m³ of air per kilometer cycled. According to her if “10% of all London cyclists had one Rolloe installed on their bike, they would filter approximately 266,865m³ of air – 20 times the size of Trafalgar Square.” Kristen wants to improve her design and develop a rear-wheel which doubles those numbers. She is also working on 3D printing a portion of the three-spoke mag wheel and using weatherproof and sustainable material for the wheel. Rolloe is surely a wise step in the right direction and we can’t wait to see it become a part of our everyday life!

Designer: Kristen Tapping

How to tell if the air around us is safe to breathe

Posted on 22/09/2020 by Engadget RSS Feed

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California’s new emissions rules target diesel trucks and cargo ships

Posted on 28/08/2020 by Engadget RSS Feed

California air quality officials have passed two new measures aimed at reducing pollution from diesel trucks and ships. One rule introduces new emissions standards for heavy-duty diesel trucks, while the other requires more ships docked at ports to e...

NASA backs studies on environmental effects of COVID-19 lockdowns

Posted on 13/05/2020 by Engadget RSS Feed

You’ve probably heard stories of skies and water clearing up while most people stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, but how much have things improved, really? Scientists are about to rely on NASA technology to find out. The space agency is fund...

NASA maps show the effect of a quarantine on air pollution

Posted on 03/03/2020 by Engadget RSS Feed

"This is the first time I have seen such a dramatic drop-off over such a wide area for a specific event," said NASA air quality researcher Fei Liu. She made that statement after NASA's Earth Observatory released maps showing a dramatic drop in air po...

Breathe Better with Flow

Posted on 10/10/2017 by Jack O'Farrell

Environmental tech company Plume Labs are on a mission to educate and alert the public about the air they breathe – the pollution levels contained in the air and the effects they have on our day-to-day lives are much worse than we know. They’ve done this through the use of their new device called Flow – the smart air quality tracker to help you find fresh air and take action to avoid pollution. Claiming that 40% of Americans are exposed to excessive smog levels where pollution causes nearly half a million early deaths a year, it seems as though Flow is a lot more of a need than a necessity.

Flow and those at Plume Labs are working with advanced data scientists to forecast real- time air pollution levels around the world to alert their users to avoid these smog heavy locations. Using the device and integrated app, Flow can help you upload your data to combine with other users, mapping out the pollution levels in surrounding areas. 73% of the app’s active users report it already helped them change their routine to avoid smog spikes in their city.

Designed in collaboration with Frog, Flow’s elegant body, versatile design and durable materials make it the perfect environmental companion to find fresh air wherever you go. Flow doesn’t have an over complicated design. Accented by the leather strap on the top, the device has a very warm feel to it. Flow is packed full of cutting-edge R&D in sensors, data and atmospheric sciences to guide those serious about their own health, into areas or routes with greater air quality. The only criticism I would have for this product is the accompanying charging base – its very simple design (often a positive compliment) compared to the Flow device itself makes this appear as an afterthought in this case.

Designer: Frog Design for Plume Labs