New smart mask helps to combat air pollution
AirBliss+ plans to launch a Kickstarter in summer 2020 so that it can launch a consumer line.
(Reuters) – A Dutch start-up company is fighting air pollution with the next generation air pollution mask that it says will be able to detect dust particles, alert users to real-time pollution levels, and eventually map out a cycling or walking route that has the least polluted air levels.
"We’re very, very excited to have a product that is not going to be like any other mask," AirBliss+ chief entrepreneur officer Adel Arigue said at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada this month.
The AirBliss+ Air Pollution Smart Mask features an inside fan system to help with inhalation and filtration, a waterproof fabric-based recyclable filter with no plastic, USB and battery-charged capability and LED lights to alert users to changes in pollution levels.
Arigue said the silicone seal adapts to the face and presents a more comfortable option than many other masks.
"We want to be the solution for mass adoption because the comfort is key for prolonged hours, and you’re happy with the user experience, and you’re happy to repeat it the next day," he said.
Because of the product’s sustainable build, Arigue said the mask lasts longer than other options as well, saying users can keep AirBliss+ for more than two years.
The World Health Organization estimates that 4.6 million people die each year globally from causes directly attributable to air pollution.
Among the many markets it intends to target are highly polluted cities in Asia like Beijing and New Delhi, the Middle East, and in California, where wildfires have blanketed the state in smoke, causing air quality to drop tremendously.
Arigue said they’re exploring pilot programs within the mining industry, particularly in North and South America.
AirBliss+ plans to launch a Kickstarter in summer 2020 so that it can launch a consumer line by the end of the year.
