Breathe without looking like a bandit.

INSIGHT

Managing our personal air space doesn’t have to be clunky.

There are places in the world where it’s fair to say we’re on the verge of choking to death as a species. With the Air Quality Index (AQI) used by global government agencies to communicate to the public pollution levels in the air (current and forecasted) being checked as often as weather, it’s amazing more people are not educated on the preventative measures we need to take to safeguard our health.

Having lived in one of the most polluted (and progressive) air care markets in the world (China), I’ve lived through enough Airpocalypses to know these invisible hazards (like sun radiation) are long-term killers if you don’t take precaution against whatever cocktail of air pollutants are affecting you (be it allergens, dust mites, noxious chemicals like sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, formaldehyde, and suspended particulate matter of the 10 and 2.5 variety).

But it took choking on my air to really connect to the need to manage my air — and by then it was almost too late as my health suffered. The industry responded with pretty advanced HEPA-filter purifiers with all kinds of fancy bells and whistles but the real question remains: how does one go outside and stay safe? And how do we get efficient by managing our personal air space be it indoor or outdoors? Apart from wrapping my nose and mouth with disposable fabric filters, what can I use that is effective, unobtrusive and relatively fashionable apart from being subjugated to a Hello Kitty accosted cloth mask?

Apart from looking at the many advanced technologies involved in filtration, purification, neutralization and ionization, how can we look to the advanced technology of both our respiratory system and the respiratory system of plants for ideas on how to filter or remove pollutants and particulates from the air? A biomimicry competition in Taiwan looked at mimicking the structure of baleen in whales and African violet leaves to collect micro particles from the air and created car filtration devices in cars in hopes of capturing PM2.5 on the roads to bring fresh air back to our commutes. What would a personal air space device look like if it mimicked the genius process of our nasal passageway’s micro hairs and mucous membranes that capture unhealthy particulates entering our lungs?

INSPIRATION

First Defense Nasal Screens

The world’s smallest breakthrough in personal air filtration, First Defense Nasal Screens are self-adhesive nostril stickers that help filter airborne germs, allergens and noxious particulates. Getting our passageways cleared with these simple stickers has turned the clunky mask market on its head and is offering new thinking to formatting solutions for personal air care.

First Defense Nasal Screens are the first ever non inserted, hypo allergenic, self-adhering disposable nasal filter. FDNS are designed to help filter and reduce the amount of contaminants that everyone inhales in all types of environments. With 50% of the world suffering from allergies and occupational lung disease being the number one cause of work related illness, the demand and need is more than obvious.

INNOVATION

“Nasal Wear”

Lightweight, durable HEPA-filter nose caps that clip-onto your nasal septum for both indoor and outdoor pollution protection. Synonymous to eyewear in function and fashion, Nasal Wear is a non-disposable accessory that discretely shields you from breathable particulate matter.

• Comfortable nostril hoods that in effect work as a second nose: capturing the particulate matter in the air without obstructing your ability to talk, breathe and smell.

• Uses biomimicry design that works like the thin hair follicles and mucosa of human nostrils to capture dust. Woven layers of follicles intercept dust and a mucosa-like gel in the outer fabric captures volatile compounds and fumes to ensure you are breathing clean air.

• Simply rinse in clean water weekly or monthly to ensure maximum efficacy of screen hair-like follicles.

• Functional, durable and fashionable. Own your own signature color and change out screens every 1-3 months, depending on usage and pollution levels.