Manufacturers are doing their bit to promote sustainability and upgrading their equipment to help people gear up for rising pollution levels, says Sakshi Sharma
Of late, how often have you seen people wearing masks in metros, local markets and malls? Yes, the trend is corroborated by recent surveys which suggest that as awareness about air pollution is spiking, more people are queuing to buy protective gear. And considering that Diwali is round the corner along with the annual menace of stubble burning, is it even surprising? For it’s that time of the year when people retreat to their homes because of the smog that wraps the city like a blanket. Move over gold and electronics, anti-pollution products are emerging as the latest trend in the Diwali must-haves. So private players have stepped in and have on offer equipment that can fight the poisonous air.
Delhi-based environmental activist and entrepreneur Jai Dhar Gupta runs Nirvana Being, an anti-pollution tools company. It manufactures specialised air pollution masks and provides indoor air quality solutions too. Talking about ‘Kalyug Ki Khidki’, a new concept being launched this month, he says, “We stay in our bedrooms for eight to 10 hours with air conditioners on. This blocks the circulation of fresh air. As the AC takes in the air from a room, cools it and releases it back there is an excess of carbon dioxide. If we inhale it for prolonged periods, it is poisonous. So what is the option that we are left with? This equipment provides a solution to this problem by bringing in filtered outdoor air into your room to maintain the oxygen level. It needs to be installed on a window or wall, which then constantly refreshes incoming air through a hepa-filter.”
Other private companies are coming up with innovative equipment. Rohit Bansal, founder of AQI India & Purelogic Labs India Private Limited, says that now more efforts are being made by citizens to set up air quality monitors. “So we have come up with a Prana air motion mask, which not only protects a user from more than 99 per cent of the pollutants but also monitors the air. With that, they will know when to protect themselves. This year we have also launched a junior mask for children and teenagers, specially designed keeping their sensitivity in mind,” he adds.
As per the recent statistics, released on October 16, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed 300. Vikas Bagaria, founder of Pee Safe, says, “Poor air quality has been a consistent public health concern in Delhi for the past few years. To fight this issue, we have launched modern-style anti-pollution dust masks, which ensure that air pollution does not disrupt people’s lifestyles. These are capable of filtering out 95 per cent of the toxins present in the air and have the perfect facial fit with earlobes and valves that facilitate easy breathing, alongside reducing build-up of heat or humidity. They filter out dust, microbes, and also help to combat serious respiratory problems like asthma.”
Amway has gone a step further through its recently-launched atmosphere mini air purifier. Says CEO Anshu Budhraja, “Air Pollution is a serious issue in India where majority of people are breathing air which is 10 times or more over the WHO-safe limit. Therefore, there is a growing need for air purification solution to breathe better and stay healthy. Ours is a next-generation air purifier equipped with better membranes than the HEPA grade filter that removes particles as small as 0.0024 microns with a single pass efficiency of 99.99 per cent and comes with allergy UK seal of approval.”
Among other things, organisations are also making efforts to first research and understand the problem at the grassroot level. AirOk Technologies Private limited CEO Deekshith Vara Prasad says that they first analysed the data before moving on with launching the equipment. He adds, “The dirty air with particulate matter, which is pretty large, can be trapped with HEPA filters. However, pollutants stick on their surface, creating a perfect environment for microbial growth to feed and multiply. Studies show that in the indoor environment, HEPA filters can become a breeding surface for pathogens, in as little as six days. So the air becomes unhealthy when it is contaminated with viruses and bacteria. To fight this, there is the EGAPA (Effective Granular Particulate Arrester) solution that controls all these parameters along with PM 2.5 (particulate matter), which can be integrated into any building to create a clean air zone throughout the year.”
Though the equipment claim a marginal improvement in the air quality, a lot of effort has to be put in to combat pollution. Gupta says, “The real problem lies at the roots. So we need to cut the pollution level at the source. There should also be a regulation on the emissions from vehicles.”