Air pollution ranks among the most pressing environmental problems and is also the fourth leading health risk factor. According to the WHO, nine out of ten people breathe air that poses elevated risk, which is associated with more than seven million premature deaths annually. One medical team has therefore introduced an eco-friendly mask and a mobile app designed to help city residents protect themselves better.
Air pollution: an invisible threat to health
Healthcare systems are under mounting pressure: costs are rising, specialists are in short supply, and patient numbers are growing. The pandemic also showed that much of prevention is in our own hands and people want more control over their health. Air quality factors heavily into this equation, not only causing many diseases but also worsening them. Poor air quality thus leads to illnesses that require intensive and costly treatment.
The World Health Organization warns that as many as nine out of ten people breathe air with potential health risks. Globally, this is linked to more than seven million premature deaths each year. The impact is evident in serious, life-changing diagnoses that could be at least partially prevented with better prevention. It is a situation we should not accept.
When disposable solutions fail
Common disposable masks are often insufficiently effective and at the same time leave an environmental footprint in waste, soil, and seas. The project presented therefore opted for a reusable, eco-friendly mask designed to protect against fine particulate matter as well as toxic chemicals. Materials used in medical practice add a barrier against airborne pathogens, too. The design is simple and practical, while the dual filtration system aims for high effectiveness in everyday wear.
The author of the solution describes personal experience exercising in the busy streets of New York, London, and Istanbul, where the impact of smog was immediate. This was also an impetus to create an accessible aid for active people and patients who want to maintain good health in an urban environment. The emphasis is on combining protection, sustainability, and comfort. The goal is for protection not to be an obstacle to an active life.
An app that teaches you to breathe smarter
The mask alone does not solve the problem if we do not know when and where the air is worst. That is why the team introduced a mobile app that alerts you to pollution spikes in urban environments and helps you adapt your daily routine so you perform physical activity at cleaner times. A key feature is also calculating how many pollutants the mask has captured according to an algorithm, which can raise awareness of the real burden. The app is thus meant to serve as both a guide and a motivational tool.
Looking ahead, the team is considering deploying artificial intelligence to evaluate the long-term health benefits of specific habits. The ambition is to put practical tools in people’s hands so they can have more control over their exposure to polluted air. Prevention thus connects with technologies in everyday life. Decisions about when and where we breathe deeply can become more informed.
